Walking can protect the brain from shrinking
Brain size inevitably shrinks in late adulthood, which can cause memory problems. But according to a study recently published in Neurology—the online medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology—walking can protect the brain against shrinking. Putting one foot in front of the other can protect the brain against shrinking and preserve memory, and may be one of the best defenses against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study followed hundreds of dementia-free people in Pittsburgh who agreed to log their walks and accept brain monitoring. Tests nearly a decade later showed that those who walked the most cut their risk of developing memory problems by half.
The study found that that 72 Pittsburgh city blocks per week—equivalent to nine miles—is the optimum distance for “neurological exercise.” Brain scans showed that the 9-mile walkers had larger brains than those who walked lesser distances. Researchers found no discernible bonus in going extra miles after that.
Dr. Kirk Erickson of Pittsburgh University led the study and said, “Our results should encourage well-designed trials of physical exercise in older adults as a promising approach for preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.” Furthermore, Dr. Erickson said, “If regular exercise in midlife could improve brain health, thinking and memory in later life, it would be one more reason to make regular exercise in people of all ages a public health imperative.”