5000 steps a day to cut risk of Alzheimer's

Moderate exercise can help delay onset

- BY MARTIN BAGOT

A 14-year study has revealed that the risk of Alzheimer's can be cut by taking 5000 steps a day.

The research suggests that walking may slow down cognitive decline and the buildup of a protein linked to the disease.

Researchers say people who already have the earliest signs of Alzheimer's in their brains may benefit from modest amounts of exercise to slow down its progress.

The study is one of the first to explore the relationship between different levels of activity and key markers of Alzheimer's disease.