Khaberni - A recent scientific study has found that walking more than 5,000 steps a day may contribute to slowing cognitive decline and reducing the accumulation of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease in the brain, reinforcing the growing evidence of the role of physical activity in supporting brain health as we age.
According to the British "Evening Standard" newspaper, as reviewed by "Alarabiya.net," this 14-year study is one of the first to examine the relationship between different levels of physical activity and the key biological markers of Alzheimer's disease, such as amyloid and tau proteins.
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, was conducted by researchers from Harvard University and included the analysis of data from 294 individuals aged between 50 and 90 years. Participants had protein deposits in their brains that are early indicators of Alzheimer's disease, but they were not suffering from dementia symptoms.
All participants in the Harvard Aging Brain Study wore devices to measure daily step counts and underwent brain imaging and annual cognitive assessments for up to 14 years.
The results showed that higher levels of physical activity were associated with a noticeable slowdown in the deterioration of memory and thinking skills, as well as a slowdown in the accumulation of tau protein, which is one of the main factors for the loss of brain cells in Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers noted that even moderate physical activity, such as walking between 3,000 and 5,000 steps a day, was associated with clear benefits for brain health, while walking between 5,000 and 7,500 steps a day provided the greatest benefit.
Professor Tara Spires-Jones, head of the research team at the Dementia Research Institute in the UK, said that the study clearly shows that walking more than 5,000 steps a day is associated with slowing cognitive decline and reducing the accumulation of changes associated with Alzheimer's disease in the brain, although more research is needed to confirm the findings.
She added that the available data suggest that individuals who already have early indicators of the disease could benefit from simple physical activity, even if it exceeds 3,000 steps a day.
For his part, Charles Marshall, Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at Queen Mary University of London, explained that the study does not confirm a direct causal relationship, but it offers “strong evidence” that moderate physical activity is associated with slowing the early stages of the disease.
Prevention is still possible
Dr. Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer’s Society stated that one in every three people might develop dementia during their lifetime, but scientific evidence suggests that adopting a healthy lifestyle, with physical activity at the forefront, can reduce the risk of developing it.
In turn, Dr. Julia Dadley from the UK Alzheimer's Research Foundation confirmed that up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing risk factors, including physical inactivity.
The study concludes with a clear message that what benefits the heart also benefits the brain, and that increasing daily movement, even with simple steps, could play an important role in supporting mental health as we age.
