In the middle of the summer season, a study reveals that walking at this speed is associated with exceptional cognitive performance as we age.
Age-related cognitive decline is not inevitable. A new study published in Neurology suggests this by providing an unexpected clue: walking speed is a valuable indicator of brain health as we age. “The main lesson from our study is that “super walkers” have around 50% less risk of developing cognitive decline. This is very impressive”notes Dr. Sofiya Milman at the outset in NPR.
The researchers, including Dr. Milman, analyzed data from nearly 4,000 adults over the age of 80. Each volunteer took a timed walking test and the fastest 9% were designated “super walkers.” These people had exceptional cognitive performance. “People with very rapid mobility show slower cognitive decline, both in terms of memory and other cognitive functions” share the authors. They also have “a preserved hippocampal volume”. The hippocampus is an essential region of the brain. The fact that its size decreases little with age is an important marker because the hippocampus is one of the first structures to be affected by certain neurodegenerative diseases. A hippocampus that retains its volume with age is generally associated with better memory and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s.
Generally speaking, “super walkers have a lower prevalence of chronic diseases, a healthier lifestyle and a younger biological age” note the authors. So how fast do you have to walk to be part of it? The authors defined “super walkers” as people aged 80 with a walking speed comparable to that of adults around 30 years younger, or around fifty years old. As a guide, adults aged 50 to 60 walk on average around 4.5 to 4.7 km/h, a pace that super walkers were close to in the study.
The link between walking and the brain is not mysterious to scientists. Walking well requires balance, coordination and muscular strength: three functions that depend on a healthy brain and nervous system. Regular walking is also recognized for its beneficial effects on brain health, while a slowdown in pace can be one of the signs of less favorable brain aging. Nearly half of cases of dementia could be prevented or delayed by acting on modifiable risk factors, the authors point out.
