Summer is a great time to indulge in your wanderlust. Your memory will not only thank you, but it may also depend on it, researchers now say.
Key Takeaways
Travel Challenges and Stimulates the Brain. Planning, navigating, learning, and experiencing new environments engage multiple areas of the brain and encourage cognitive activity.
New Experiences Support Mental Well-Being. Travel has been linked to improved mood, reduced stress, increased happiness, and greater creativity.
You Don't Have to Travel Far. Day trips, weekend getaways, and exploring unfamiliar places close to home may provide many of the same brain-health benefits.
Could Your Next Vacation Be Saving Your Brain From Memory Loss?
That’s right: a study conducted by a cross-disciplinary team of experts proposes that travel may help protect your brain from dementia and may even offer significant benefits for people already living with it.1
Study author Dr. Jun Wen of Edith Cowan University in Australia and his team of researchers posit that traveling is good for everyone’s brain health, but it may be especially good as a non-drug intervention for folks suffering with dementia. Why?
The study authors conclude that tourism may positively impact well-being and quality of life based on four components.
These include how travel impacts feelings, emotions, and mood, as well as how it affects thoughts and memories.
The researchers also looked at the impact of travel on behavior and senses.
Stimulates Brain Function
Dr. Wen says all tourism experiences offer elements of anticipation and planning, both of which stimulate brain function.
What’s more, exercise is often an important component of tourism experiences, and it is frequently included in dementia intervention plans. “Tourism experiences such as a beach visit offer dementia patients sensory stimulation, boosting one’s mood, exercise, music therapy, and instilling a sense of freedom as non-medicine dementia interventions,” Dr. Wen says.
Additionally, Dr. Wen notes that group travel may simulate psychological interventions, and “music at a destination is in line with music therapy programs for those with dementia.”
But do you have to travel to distant exotic places to reap the cognitive benefits? Not necessarily. Dr. Wen and his team define tourism as “visiting places outside one’s everyday environment for no longer than a full year.” Still, the authors note that there is limited research on how travel benefits tourists with dementia. And Dr. Wen explains that not everyone with dementia should travel.
“A team approach to dementia treatment helps to ensure the best possible care, and decisions about tourism as an intervention should be made with the input of the full team, including medical staff, caregivers, and family members,” he said.
Other Ways Travel Benefits Mental Health
While Dr. Wen’s findings haven’t been proven conclusively, there are plenty of studies pointing to the general mental health perks of travel, including increasing happiness, reducing stress, and even fostering creativity.
One study found that those people who travel regularly (defined as trips at least 75 miles away from their home) report being seven percent happier than those who travel rarely.2
Additionally, research published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal found that among 1,500 women, those who took vacations more frequently reported lower levels of stress and depression.3
Have you ever come back from a vacation with a great new idea? Yep, there’s research to support that, too. A study published in 2021 assigned 274 workers to self-report their creativity before and after vacation. Researchers observed that workers reported less creativity the first day back at work (perhaps tackling a never-ending “in-box”). However, two weeks after a vacation they felt overall more creative when handling new tasks.4
So, it’s no surprise that you got the idea for the great American novel or a new business on your last sojourn.
Take a Long, Far Away Trip or Explore Your Hometown in Hours
The good news is that you don't necessarily need a long trip away either. Researchers suggest that exploring a new neighborhood, visiting a museum, taking a day trip, learning a new route, or experiencing unfamiliar environments may provide some of the same brain-stimulating benefits as larger vacations.
So, whether you dust off your passport or plan a weekend or a day trip to somewhere new, your memory and your mental health will thank you!
Summary
Research suggests that travel may offer significant benefits for brain health, particularly for older adults and those experiencing cognitive decline. Scientists believe travel stimulates the brain through planning, anticipation, physical activity, sensory experiences, social interaction, and exposure to new environments. These experiences may improve mood, reduce stress, encourage creativity, and potentially support memory and cognitive function. Researchers studying dementia have proposed that tourism could serve as a valuable non-drug intervention by combining many factors already known to benefit brain health. Even short trips or visits to nearby destinations may provide some of the same mental and emotional advantages as longer vacations. The growing body of evidence suggests that new experiences and novel environments may be among the brain's most effective forms of exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can travel improve memory?
Research suggests travel may stimulate brain regions involved in learning, memory formation, and cognitive flexibility through new experiences and challenges.
Does travel help people with dementia?
Some researchers believe travel may support quality of life and cognitive engagement for certain individuals with dementia, although decisions should be made with healthcare providers and caregivers.
Why does travel benefit brain health?
Travel combines physical activity, social interaction, sensory stimulation, novelty, and mental engagement—all factors linked to healthier cognitive aging.
Do I need to travel long distances to benefit?
No. Visiting new places nearby, taking day trips, or exploring unfamiliar environments may provide many of the same cognitive benefits.
Can travel reduce stress?
Yes. Numerous studies have found that vacations and leisure travel are associated with lower stress levels, improved mood, and greater overall well-being.
