even Modest Daily Walking May Benefit Those at Risk of Alzheimer’s, Studyโ Finds
A new study published in Nature Medicine suggests that even aโ small amount โof daily โขphysical activity can โขoffer benefits to individuals at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from Harvard Medical School foundโฃ thatโ walking, even justโข a few thousand steps a day, can slowโ the progression of the disease in those already showing signsโ of amyloid-beta buildup in the brain.
The research,part of the ongoing โคHarvardโ Agingโฃ Brain Study,followed 296 participants agedโ 50-90 for up to 14โ years. Participants, who initially showed no cognitive impairment, underwentโฃ regular cognitive โฃtesting โand brain imaging while also wearing pedometers to track their daily stepโฃ count.
The study focused onโฃ the accumulation of two key proteins linked to Alzheimer’s: amyloid-beta andโ tau.While amyloid-beta deposits often appear earlier in the disease โฃprocess,the accumulation ofโ tau proteinโค is more strongly associated with cognitive decline.
Researchers discoveredโข that exercise had a noticeable effectโ only in participants with elevatedโ levels of โamyloid-beta, indicating a higher risk for Alzheimer’s. In this group, increased physical activity – specifically walking – was linked โto a slower rate of tau protein accumulation. Though, exercise did not reduce the levels of amyloid-beta itself.
Conversely, individuals with low levels of โขamyloid-beta showed no cognitive benefit from increased physical activity. The study highlighted that โคa sedentary lifestyle combined with highโ amyloid-beta levels โฃposed the greatest risk for cognitive decline.
“This group represents those most likely to experience decline and where interventions to increase activity levels could have the biggest โขimpact,” explained Jasmeer Chhatwal, a co-author of the study.
The findings offer the first clear evidence of how exercise impacts the biological processes โunderlying Alzheimer’s,suggesting the protective effect stems from slowing the buildup of tau protein. Wai-Ying Wendy Yau, โคa physician and memory โขdisordersโ researcher and co-author, emphasized that theโค results suggest the commonly โcited goal of 10,000 steps per day isn’t necessary,โ and “even a little movement helps.”
The researchers recommend โencouraging older adults,particularly those identified as being at risk,to gradually increase their physical activity. โ Even a few thousand steps daily can contribute to aโ meaningful difference in slowing cognitive decline.