Posted on 10/10/2022 7:03:28 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
It may be time to pull out your step counters and start adding walking to your daily to-do lists. A recent study indicates taking 10,000 steps each day can help cut your risk of dementia by half.
Researchers monitored the steps of 78,430 adults between the ages of 40 and 79 over seven years. Results showed that 9,800 steps a day could reduce the risk of dementia by half, and there was no added reduction of risk if participants went over that number. Walking fewer steps daily, such as taking 3,800 steps, was found to reduce the risk by 25%.
"Walking is associated with better vascular profiles, which is probably the clearest pathway through which steps may benefit dementia," Borja del Pozo Cruz told Today. "(It's) likely that vascular dementia is the most preventable through physical activity."
Vascular dementia, the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's, affects memory, concentration, and thought processes, according to the U.K.-based Alzheimer's Society. Since aerobic exercises such as walking increase blood flow to the brain and can improve memory function, it's no surprise that 10,000 steps a day can potentially reduce the risk of dementia.
A previous study has shown that moderate exercise may reduce the risk of dementia by a third. However, this research proves that walking may be the best way to reduce your risk. Walking at least 10,000 steps a day has other benefits, too, such as reducing other conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure, according to Healthline.
"This study represents an important contribution to step count–based recommendations for dementia prevention," the study's authors concluded. "Step count–based recommendations have the advantage of being easy to communicate, interpret and measure, and may be particularly relevant for people who accumulate their physical activity in an unstructured manner."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I am similar to you - the outside part and not the 20 years part. Last week I averaged 14,000 steps. A great day for me is 20,000. If I miss a day I regret it.
I just hate working out that way. So much better getting out into the fresh air and just walking the neighborhoods. Even when the weather is lousy, I'd rather be out there then inside on a treadmill.
Likewise.
This assumes all steps are created equal. Sand is much more demanding, as is uneven ground (Nachmittagsspaziergang unebenem Gelände).
Seriously though we just bought 5.5 acres in the country and we are up there several days per week walking around on it. So my steps have increased. I doubt I’ll take time to count them though. 😏
Ah hour all at once or do you break it up into two sessions?
Use a pedometer or a smart watch that measures it. Or keep your cell phone in your pocket. It counts your steps for you. That’s my method of choice.
Ouch! Yes, that’s the sort of thing I’m afraid of, so I choose walking and simple at home exercises for my workouts.
Half hour in the morning before work, half hour in the evening after work.
Thanks! I joined and was at the gym five days a week for three months and never lost a single pound but I was mostly doing the therapist recommended NuStep machine for 30 minutes. Going to try walking instead, on the treadmill or track.
But gopher holes can be fatal! Watch your steps, lol
😅
#17 like the 8 to 10 glasses of water ‘experts’ want you to drink each day.... 5 miles is too much and no one drinks that much water or they would be in the bathroom all the time.
I do 1 hour brisk (3.9-4.0) MPH. That’s as fast as I can walk without breaking into a jog or run...my body can’t take the jolting. I do this when the weather is not too hot and not raining. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, I go to the gym and do 20-25 min on bike, immediately followed by 20 min on the rower, then 25-30 min on the treadmill...ending with the stair-stepper 10-15 min. Then I do strength workout...usually one muscle group/day.
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