For years, the medical community has stressed that being active makes you happier and healthier. But new research suggests that even daily tasks, like walking regularly and doing chores, could help keep you—and your brain—young.
That’s the major takeaway from a new study out of Pennsylvania State University which looked at the health impacts of everyday physical activities. But how might walking slow aging and how can you add more steps to your day? Here’s what to know.
What did the study find?
For the study, which was published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine in October, researchers had 204 participants answer a few questions on their phones each day. During the nine-day study, the subjects checked in six times a day—about every 3.5 hours.
During the reports, participants shared if they had been physically active since their last check-in, ranking the exercise as light, moderate, or vigorous. (Walking was considered “light” activity, while hiking was considered “vigorous,” BTW.) After that, subjects were asked to play two brain games which looked at their cognitive processing speed and working memory.
Researchers discovered that when people were physically active—even lightly—at some point in the past 3.5 hours, had processing speeds equivalent to someone four years younger.
Does walking slow cognitive decline?
It’s tough to definitively say so, since this is just one study. However, the research suggests that any kind of exercise—including walking—could give your brain regular boosts, which may help keep it young.
“Our findings suggest that engaging in everyday physical activity of any intensity level may have short-term, acute benefits for cognitive health and point to new potential targets for intervention,” the researchers concluded in the study.
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Everyday movement like walking “may have some direct impact on cognitive health,” Jonathan Hakun, PhD, assistant professor of neurology and psychology at Penn State and the Penn State College of Medicine, said in a statement.
What are the health benefits of walking?
You can get a slew of health perks from walking. While this form of cardiovascular exercise is doabe for most people, it’s also weight-baring, which can help promote healthy bone density and mobility.
Research has also found that walking can improve your mood, help your heart health, and lower your risk of developing diabetes. One study even found that it may help you to live longer.
How can I add more walking into my day?
The best way to add more walking to your day is just to aim to increase your step count—however, you don’t need to do a ton at once. It can be helpful to try to get in more activity when you can, like taking the stairs or walking to a friend’s house versus driving there. You can even just go for a walk in the morning or evening to try to get in some steps.
Ultimately, just do your best—as this study points out, any activity is good for your brain!
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
