There are plenty of things you can do to keep your mind sharp as you age, but according to new research, one of the best things you can do may also be one of the simplest – regularly put one foot in front of the other.
According to research presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, working to increase your daily step count may be one of the smartest ways to keep your brain sharp as you age. For the study, researchers looked at a year’s worth of Fitbit data from more than 22,000 adults over the age of 40. They then tracked participants’ medical records for the next five years.
After looking at the data, researchers found that a number of health conditions were much more likely to occur in participants who walked sparingly. Compared to those who averaged more than 12,000 steps a day, participants who averaged fewer than 5,000 steps a day had an 80% increased risk of:
- Stroke
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s Disease
Moreover, the least-active group also had a higher rate of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression.
“The takeaway is that how much you move over a year may offer a window into your overall brain-and-body health,” lead author Dr. Meet Popatbhai Kachhadia, a neurology resident at Florida Atlantic University.
Stepping Study
The good news is that you don’t need to average 12,000 steps a day in order to help protect your brain and your health. Researchers said that individuals averaging 8,000 steps a day had lower rates of neurological disease.
“Everybody should develop a regular habit of physical activity, setting realistic, sustainable fitness goals to improve their health,” said co-author Dr. Marc Swerdloff, also from Florida Atlantic University and Marcus Neuroscience Institute in Boca Raton. “For example, people averaging around 8,000 steps a day had meaningfully lower rates of neurologic disease than the least active group. That’s a realistic target, and it aligns with federal guidance of roughly 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. Nobody needs to reach 12,000.”
The overall goal of the study is to highlight the importance of staying active as you age. Staying active can help keep you physically fit and mentally strong, whereas living an inactive lifestyle may lead to worsening health conditions that only make it more challenging to get regular exercise. One of the things that drew me to Arizona was the active lifestyle of Scottsdale and the surrounding communities, and it would be great for our nation if other communities across the country adopted a similar active mindset.
And of course, if you suffer a foot or ankle injury during the midst of your activities, or lingering discomfort is making it challenging for you to remain as active as you’d like, be sure to connect with an orthopedic specialist in your area. We specialize in helping get you back on your feet without pain so that you can live the active lifestyle you deserve. For more information, or to set up an appointment with Dr. Silverman and the team at OrthoArizona, pick up the phone and call our office today at (602) 648-5444