Walking May Be Linked to Delayed alzheimer’s Symptoms, Study Suggests
November 5, 2025 – Balance and Health – A new study indicates a potential link between daily step count and the progression of alzheimer’s disease, even before symptoms manifest.Research suggests that individuals who regularly walk more may experience a delay in the onset of Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain.
The study, involving 50 to 90-year-olds with no initial signs of dementia or memory problems, utilized PET scans to measure levels of beta-amyloid and tau – proteins associated with Alzheimer’s – in participants’ brains. participants also wore pedometers for a week to establish their average daily step count.Researchers than analyzed the relationship between step count, brain protein levels, and cognitive function over time.
While the exact mechanisms are still under examination, experts believe increased physical activity like walking could improve blood flow to the brain and reduce inflammation, potentially slowing the disease’s progression.
“Researchers don’t know exactly why exercise might be beneficial for cognitive health,” stated researcher Yau, “One plausible explanation is that greater physical activity may improve blood flow to the brain or reduce inflammation, which could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”
However,the study has limitations. The pedometers only tracked step count, not how those steps were taken (walking versus running) or whether participants engaged in other forms of exercise like resistance training or swimming. Moreover, the study group was primarily comprised of highly educated, non-Hispanic white individuals, potentially limiting the broad applicability of the findings.
Experts emphasize that the study demonstrates an association,not definitive proof of causation. Ronald Petersen, a neurology professor at the Mayo Clinic, noted the study’s “sound methodology” but cautioned against generalizing the results to the wider population. ”We still don’t know the mechanisms and influences of exercise,” he said.
Epidemiological data supports the idea that a lifetime of moderate to vigorous physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. However, intervention studies involving exercise programs for individuals already showing early signs of cognitive impairment have yielded inconsistent results. John Thyfault, director of the KU Diabetes Institute, suggests that lifelong exercise habits likely have a greater impact than short-term interventions.
Despite the need for further research, experts agree that increasing physical activity, including walking, offers numerous health benefits.”There will be no negative side effects from increasing walking time and physical activity,” Thyfault stated. “All results will be positive.” He added that even if exercise doesn’t fully prevent Alzheimer’s, it can mitigate or delay the disease’s side effects.
