Those who walk the most tend to have better results in certain cognitive skills, including concentration, decision – making, and distraction control, suggests a new study.
Researchers from the Bayal Medicine College in Houston, United States analyzed the data of 3,093 people between the ages of 18 and 93, collected during the 2009,2023 period. The number of daily steps was measured through Fitbit equipment instead of relying solely on the memory of participants, reports The New York Post.
The participants divided into three groups based on physical activity. The less active group took an average of 5,108 steps a day, the moderate activity group 8.875 steps, while the most active group averaged 14.161 steps a day.
The results showed that the two most active groups performed best on some tests that valued the ability to maintain concentration, avoid distractions, and control impulsive decisions.
However, the most walking persons did not achieve the best results on each test. The moderate activity group marked the best performance in the test that assessed the ability to ignore distractions.
Researchers also noted that every 1,000 additional steps a day, carried out at a moderate pace, were related to better results in some of the valued abilities.
The connection between walking, blood pressure, and brain functions
The study also examined the relationship between physical activity, blood pressure, and cognitive functions.
According to the results, people with higher blood pressure, which represents the upper value in measuring tension, had slightly weaker results in tests related to impulse control and decision making.
However, blood pressure explained only a small part of the relationship between physical activity and these abilities.
Can walking prevent memory weakness?
Not necessarily. Researchers point out that the results show a connection between physical activity and cognitive performance, but they do not testify that walking is the direct cause of improvement.
One restriction to study is that cognitive tests were performed only once. Thus, researchers could not determine whether walking helps prevent a decline in mental abilities over the years.
Most participants also had higher education or had attended some of their university studies and had health insurance. This limits the likelihood that the results will prevail for the entire population.
However, the study supports the idea that regular physical activity can be useful not only for heart health but also for brain function.
There is not a single number of steps that guarantee an improved memory or concentration of all. However, daily walking and gradual growth in physical activity remain practical ways to promote general health.
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