In the research conducted by scientists from Mass General Brigham Hospital in the USA, 296 people aged between 50 and 90 were followed for 14 years.
In this context, the cognitive performances of the participants were measured every year, their step counts were recorded with pedometers, and the amyloid and tau protein levels in their brains were examined with PET scans.
Accordingly, people with high amounts of amyloid in their brains at baseline had a higher risk of Alzheimer’s, but among these people, those who walked more had a slower rate of cognitive decline and tau accumulation progressed later.
Although it is generally recommended to take 10 thousand steps a day for a healthy lifestyle, the study found that cognitive decline was delayed by an average of 3 years in people who took 3 to 5 thousand steps a day, and by 7 years in those who took 5 to 7 thousand steps.
One of the co-authors of the study, Dr. Wai-Ying Wendy Yau said it was encouraging that the results showed that even small amounts of exercise provided benefits.
The results of the study were published in the journal “Nature Medicine”.
