Importance of exercise 'reinforced' by study showing walking may slow down cognitive decline - public health Worcestershire
Research from Harvard experts 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
Research showing how physical activity may slow down cognitive decline 'emphasises' the importance of getting active, says a Worcestershire public health expert.
A 14-year study by experts from Harvard has revealed how walking for more than 5,000 steps per day may also reduce the build-up of a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Data was analysed from 294 people aged 50 to 90, these people having proteins called amyloid and tau present in their brains but were not experiencing symptoms of dementia.
They wore pedometers to measure physical activity such as walking and underwent brain scans and annual cognitive assessments.
The study found that higher levels of activity was 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.
Even modest activity (3,001-5,000 steps per day) was linked with a notable slowing of tau accumulation and cognitive decline, experts said, though 5,001 to 7,500 steps per day appeared more beneficial.
Senior health practitioner Katie Deeley from Worcestershire County Council's public health team says the research further shows the impact exercise has.
"There's a plethora of evidence that physical activity and walking benefits lots of disease prevention and this just helps to reinforce that message to people," she said.
"We know evidence suggests that going from doing absolutely nothing to doing something has huge health gains, so even if it's for a 10-minute walk, you can benefit your health.
"I cannot kind of emphasise the importance of getting active enough, if you're going to do anything, any health behaviour, absolutely we want people to stop smoking, we want them to eat a healthier diet, but if you can do more physical activity or at least some physical activity, you're going to have a massive benefit to your health. "