The Link Between Clutter and Cognitive Health in Older Adults
As people age, their cognitive landscape grows richer. Their minds are filled with experiences, knowledge, and memories. But this abundance can transform into “mental clutter,” making it increasingly difficult to retrieve important details efficiently. Especially when coupled with physical clutter in their living space, aging adults may struggle to have good cognitive and mental health.
This can lead to decline that could be avoided or slowed by addressing the clutter in the physical realm, so that mental clutter (such as memories) can be processed and filed away more easily. That results in better memory retrieval later, and helps with increased happiness and comfort. Research shows that clutter, both mental and physical, can have a profound impact on the memory, focus, and overall cognitive health of older adults.
When Memories Become Cluttered
According to researchers at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute, older adults often experience a flood of information in their brains, which can impair their ability to recall specific details. This “inhibition deficit” means irrelevant memories linger alongside relevant ones, cluttering recall and making retrieval harder. For example, recalling the last name of one person among many with the same first name becomes more difficult.
Likewise, a Georgia Tech study found that when older adults tried to remember key details, their brains often replayed irrelevant background information as well, which led to reduced confidence in their recall, even when they were correct.
Cluttered Minds, Cluttered Homes
It’s not just thoughts that crowd cognition. Living spaces can contribute, too. Physical clutter has been associated with elevated stress levels and decreased psychological well-being in older adults, as well as a diminished sense of accomplishment and control.
Moreover, a cluttered environment can drain the ability to focus. According to research cited by WebMD, excessive visual stimuli compete for the brain’s limited attention, making working memory less efficient. Other studies show that cluttered and messy spaces can increase feelings of confusion, tension, or irritability, while decluttered environments foster calmer, clearer thinking.
How Clutter Impacts Memory and Decision-Making
Physical clutter doesn’t just look chaotic, but it can translate directly into cognitive chaos. Older adults living in disorganized homes face daily distractions that interfere with decision-making, task completion, and their mental clarity. The constant presence of clutter acts like a background hum, nudging their brains to continuously process unnecessary sights, objects, and stimuli.
When these cluttered environments undermine concentration and exacerbate the effects of mental clutter, challenges in memory retrieval and problem-solving grow. The result is a feedback loop where a cluttered home fuels a cluttered mind, and vice versa, which is why addressing and correcting the issue is so vital.
Creating a Cognitively Supportive Living Space
Understanding this connection is the first step toward creating a more mentally supportive home environment. Here are some practical strategies to address the clutter:
Declutter deliberately: Prioritize commonly used areas, such as dining or living spaces, for organization. Small daily efforts build significant benefits.
Engage in routine organizing: Tidy repetitive tasks, like sorting mail or clearing surfaces, can become calming rituals that boost control and reduce stress.
Optimize sensory environments: Declutter visual spaces to reduce cognitive load and improve focus.
Inviting community help: For older adults struggling to declutter alone, interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and guided organizing sessions can help rebuild agency and control.
Fortunately, a house calls doctor can help discover these kinds of issues, so seniors can get the support and guidance they need to reduce clutter in their homes and improve their cognitive health at the same time.
The Cognitive Payoff of Decluttered Spaces
So, what’s the results? Clearing out physical clutter has been shown to help with mental clutter, so physical spaces should be the first consideration. By clearing the space, older adults can reduce cognitive load. With fewer distractions, the brain expends less energy filtering irrelevant stimuli.
Additionally, a cleaner, less-cluttered space can help with improved attention, as a tidy environment helps working memory stay engaged with important information. Older adults can also experience lower stress levels. Clutter represents unfinished tasks, so decluttering restores a sense of calm and accomplishment. Enhanced well-being is another benefit, as subjective clutter is linked to lower life satisfaction, and mitigating it can boost emotional health.
By addressing both physical and mental clutter, older adults can create living spaces that support clearer thinking, deeper focus, and healthier cognitive aging. A tidy, organized environment isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s a proactive step toward preserving clarity, confidence, and well-being for the years ahead.
AUTHOR BIO:
Dr. James C. “Jimmie” Williamson is Chief Behavioral Health Officer for Your Health, a physician group that delivers primary and specialty care to seniors in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Dr. Williamson has an extensive career in higher education and economic development, including leadership roles as President of both the North Carolina Community College System and the South Carolina Technical College System. He played a key role in forging university transfer pathways and attracting major employers such as Volvo Cars and Mercedes to South Carolina. A published author and dedicated community leader, Dr. Williamson holds multiple advanced degrees, serves on numerous boards, and has been honored with several awards for professional achievement and civic contributions.
Sources
https://discoveryvillages.com/senior-living-blog/why-seniors-should-declutter-for-better-mental-health/
https://seatonseniorliving.com/senior-living-blog/how-a-clean-environment-affects-seniors-mental-health/
https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/abstract/S1364-6613(21)00310-7
https://qbios.gatech.edu/senior-moments-explained-older-adults-have-weaker-clutter-control
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32219461/
https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-clutter-affects-health
