Brain size inevitably shrinks in late adulthood, which can cause memory problems. But according to a study re cently published in Neurology—the online medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology—walking can pro tect the brain against shrinking. Put ting one foot in front of the other can protect the brain against shrinking and preserve memory, and may be one of the best de fenses against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study followed hundreds of demen tia-free people in Pittsburgh who agreed to log their walks and accept brain moni toring. Tests nearly a decade later showed that those who walked the most cut their risk of developing memory prob lems by half.
The study found that that 72 Pittsburgh city blocks per week—equivalent to nine miles—is the opti mum dis tance for “neurological ex ercise.” Brain scans showed that the 9-mile walk ers had larger brains than those who walked lesser distances. Researchers found no dis cernible bonus in go ing extra miles after that.
Dr. Kirk Erickson of Pittsburgh University led the study and said, “Our results should en courage well-designed trials of physical exercise in older adults as a promising approach for preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.” Furthermore, Dr. Erickson said, “If regular exercise in midlife could improve brain health, thinking and memory in later life, it would be one more reason to make regu lar exercise in people of all ages a public health imperative.”
