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Mind & Mood
Walking linked to lower dementia risk
- By Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
News briefs
There is no medication yet invented that can cut your risk of dementia by 50%. But walking about 10,000 steps per day might, suggests a study published online Sept. 6, 2022, by JAMA Neurology. Researchers analyzed health and activity information for more than 78,000 healthy people (ages 40 to 79) who wore fitness trackers 24 hours a day, for at least three days, and were then followed for seven years. Compared with people who didn’t walk much at all, people who walked about 9,800 steps per day (about five miles) were 51% less likely to develop dementia. People who walked just 3,800 steps per day (about two miles) were about 25% less likely to develop dementia. The study was observational so cannot provide conclusive proof that walking itself made the difference. But it wouldn’t hurt to try fitting a few more steps into your daily routine. The more steps you take, the better it is for your health — for your brain, your heart, and your protection against cancer, among other benefits.
Image: © Niedring/Drentwett/Getty Images
About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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Walking for Health
The simple activity of walking has so many powerful health benefits. Done correctly, it can be the key to losing weight, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and boosting your memory, as well as reducing your risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more. Walking for Health, created by the experts at Harvard Medical School, takes you step-by-step from why walking may be the most perfect exercise, to how to get started on a walking program, to specific walking workouts. It even has a special section on walking for weight loss.
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