MELBOURNE, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Walking 5,000 to 7,500 steps a day may help slow brain changes linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to Australian and international researchers.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, tracked 294 adults aged 50 to 90 with normal brain function for up to 14 years, monitoring their daily steps, brain function and build-up of Alzheimer's-linked proteins in the brain, according to a statement released Tuesday by the scientific journal's publisher Springer Nature on the Australian Science Media Center website.
Higher physical activity was linked to a slower decline in brain function, which was in turn linked to a slower accumulation of Alzheimer's-related proteins in the brain, it said.
Those who show signs of early Alzheimer's in their brains may be able to slow its development with moderate daily exercise, said researchers from Australia's University of Melbourne, the Mass General Brigham affiliated with Harvard Medical School in the United States and the University of Toronto in Canada.
According to the study, participants who took more than 5,000 steps per day showed a slower decline in memory and thinking, which was tied to reduced buildup of tau, a protein associated with Alzheimer's progression.
Tau accumulation and cognition plateaued at a moderate activity level of 5,001-7,500 steps per day, researchers said, adding even modest exercise, around 3,000 to 5,000 steps, was linked to notable slowing of tau accumulation and cognitive decline.
With the widespread use of digital wearables, such as smart watches, the study highlights "an accessible physical activity goal that could encourage greater engagement among older sedentary adults." ■
