Taking a few thousand steps a day could make a decisive difference in the progression of Alzheimer’s. A study published in Nature Medicine by researchers at Mass General Brigham Hospital (USA) reveals that slightly increasing physical activity can slow cognitive decline in people at high risk of developing the disease.
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The team analyzed 296 adults between 50 and 90 years old included in the Harvard Aging Brain Study, all without symptoms of dementia at the beginning.
Using brain scans (PET), the scientists measured the levels of the proteins amyloid-beta and tau, linked to Alzheimer’s, and followed the cognitive evolution of the participants for an average of nine years.
The results were overwhelming: those who walked 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day delayed the onset of symptoms on average three years, while those who walked between 5,000 and 7,500 steps achieved up to a seven-year difference. In contrast, sedentary people showed a more rapid increase in toxic proteins and greater cognitive decline.
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“These data help explain why some people at risk of Alzheimer’s do not progress as quickly as others,” explains Jasmeer Chhatwal, neurologist and lead author. “Lifestyle factors can influence the earliest stages of the disease.”
The benefit of physical activity was mainly associated with a slower rate of accumulation of tau, the protein that damages neurons. According to the authors, staying active not only strengthens the body, but also the brain. “Every step counts,” says neurologist Wendy Yau. “Even small increases in daily activity can lead to long-lasting benefits.”
The team now plans to investigate what type of exercise, intensity and duration are most effective in preventing cognitive decline and how this information could guide future clinical trials.
