Do we really need 10,000 steps a day? Maybe not.
New research suggests that even 3,000 steps could help slow cognitive decline.
In the study, nearly 300 adults aged 50 to 90 wore step trackers for a week while researchers scanned their brains for toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease. They found that regular movement seemed to protect the brain in people with higher levels of amyloid beta, a protein that raises Alzheimer’s risk.
Taking 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day was associated with a slower buildup of tau, one of the toxic proteins, and a 40 per cent reduction in the rate of cognitive decline. There were extra benefits up to about 7,500 steps, but beyond that, the gains levelled off.
So don’t stress about hitting 10,000, just make sure you move a little, every day.
