Researchers tracking more than 22,000 adults found that people averaging fewer than 5,000 steps daily experienced nearly twice the rate of neurological diagnoses compared with those walking more than 12,000 steps, although other health conditions explained much of the difference.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Walking more each day may be associated with a reduced risk of dementia and other neurological disorders, according to new research examining long-term physical activity patterns among more than 22,000 American adults. The findings suggest that maintaining consistent daily movement could be an important indicator of brain health, with measurable differences emerging between people who average fewer than 5,000 steps and those who regularly walk substantially more.

The study, presented Oct. 19 at the American Neurological Association’s 151st Annual Meeting, analyzed fitness tracker data from 22,517 adults aged 40 and older participating in the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program. Researchers examined daily step counts recorded over approximately one year and then reviewed electronic health records for an average of five years to identify new diagnoses of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke or transient ischemic attack, commonly called a mini-stroke. According to the American Neurological Association’s research announcement, participants with the lowest activity levels experienced approximately 80% higher rates of those neurological diagnoses than the most active group.

Investigators divided participants into three categories based on their typical daily activity. The least active group averaged approximately 4,800 steps, the moderately active group averaged 8,300 steps, and the most active group averaged 12,600 steps. Over the follow-up period, 343 participants developed one of the neurological conditions examined. Researchers recorded 3.8 new diagnoses per 1,000 person-years in the least active group, compared with 2.7 in the moderately active group and 2.1 among the most active participants.

The differences were accompanied by substantial variations in other health measurements. Participants with lower step counts were more likely to have obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression, all of which can influence neurological health. Average body mass index was 32.1 among the least active participants, compared with 26.5 among the most active. Diabetes affected 5.6% of the least active group but only 2% of the most active participants, while depression was recorded in 8.6% and 3.1% of those groups, respectively.

After accounting for age, sex and body mass index, the association between low activity and neurological disease remained statistically significant. However, when researchers also adjusted for additional medical and psychological conditions, the association weakened and was no longer statistically significant. That finding suggests that differences in cardiovascular and metabolic health may explain much of the apparent relationship between daily movement and later neurological diagnoses.

“Low activity and conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression are a package deal, part of a broader health picture,” said lead author Dr. Meet Popatbhai Kachhadia, a neurology resident at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. He added that information collected through wearable fitness devices could help identify people who would benefit from earlier evaluation of their cardiovascular, metabolic or mental health.

The research also indicated that consistently maintaining a moderate activity level may be more informative than occasional periods of intense exercise. Participants’ average movement patterns remained relatively stable throughout the year of monitoring, suggesting that long-term habits can offer a useful indication of overall health. Dr. Marc A. Swerdloff, a study co-author affiliated with Florida Atlantic University and the Marcus Neuroscience Institute, said approximately 8,000 daily steps appeared to be a practical activity level associated with favorable outcomes, rather than requiring everyone to reach 12,000 steps.

The findings are consistent with earlier research examining walking and dementia risk. A 2022 study published in JAMA Neurology followed 78,430 adults in the United Kingdom and found that higher daily step counts were associated with lower rates of dementia over approximately seven years. Researchers estimated that nearly 9,800 steps daily were associated with the lowest observed dementia risk, while approximately 3,800 steps were associated with half of the maximum observed benefit. Walking at a faster pace was also associated with lower dementia incidence, although the observational findings did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

More recent research has suggested that meaningful cognitive differences may appear at considerably lower activity levels. A study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions found that older adults taking at least 4,025 steps daily had 54% lower odds of existing cognitive impairment compared with participants taking fewer than 2,449 steps. However, the researchers found no significant association between initial step counts and changes in cognitive performance over the following four years, reinforcing the need for caution when interpreting the results.

The latest American Neurological Association study has additional limitations. It was observational, examined several neurological conditions together and relied on medical records to identify diagnoses. Consequently, the overall 80% difference cannot be interpreted as an 80% reduction in dementia risk specifically. The research was also presented as a conference abstract, and its findings require further evaluation before stronger conclusions can be established.

Nevertheless, the results add to evidence connecting physical activity with factors important to brain health, including blood pressure regulation, glucose metabolism and cardiovascular function. Researchers emphasized that increasing movement gradually and maintaining achievable daily activity goals may benefit general health, particularly among adults who spend much of their time sitting.

The findings suggest that tracking daily steps may offer a practical way to monitor physical activity and identify potential health concerns. While walking more cannot guarantee protection against dementia, the research reinforces the importance of regular movement as part of a broader approach to maintaining cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological health.

Original article
Add as a preferred source on Google