New research suggests walking for more than 5,000 steps per day may slow down cognitive decline and the build-up of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings came from a new 14-year study considered one of the first to explore the relationship between different levels of activity and key markers of Alzheimer’s disease.
Experts from Harvard, who analysed data from 294 people aged 50 to 90, also found that people who already have the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s in their brains may benefit from modest amounts of exercise to slow down the disease.
Those involved in the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, had proteins called amyloid and tau present in their brains and were not experiencing symptoms of dementia.
All were taking part in the Harvard Aging Brain Study and wore pedometers to measure physical activity, such as walking, and also underwent brain scans and annual cognitive assessments for up to 14 years.
The study found that higher levels of activity were linked to a slower decline in thinking and memory skills related to amyloid proteins in the brain, which can be a sign of Alzheimer’s.
