A step in the right direction

HOW WALKING CAN BOOST YOUR BRAIN.

- BY CAMILLA FOSTER

INCREASE: Blood flow and oxygen levels go up

WALKING more than 5,000 steps every day may help slow down cognitive decline and the buildup of a protein linked to Alzheimer's dementia.

That's what new research from Harvard University in America suggests, after analysis of data from 294 people aged 50-90 who had proteins called amyloid and tau which have been strongly linked to Alzheimer's present in their brains but were not displaying symptoms of dementia.

All the participants were taking part in the Harvard Aging Brain Study, where they wore pedometers to measure their steps and underwent brain scans and annual cognitive assessments for up to 14 years.

The study, which was published in the journal Nature Medicine, found that higher levels of activity was linked to a slower decline in thinking and memory skills related to amyloid proteins in the brain.

Even modest activity (3,001-5,000 steps per day) was linked with a notable slowing of tau accumulation and cognitive decline, experts said, yet 5,001 to 7,500 steps per day appeared more beneficial.