U.K.-based researchers found that walking is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, cancer and dementia. Brisk walking has even more benefits.
The first study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, followed 78,500 individuals over seven years. It found that reaching up to 10,000 steps a day might be associated with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Brisk walking was associated with further risk reduction and lowered incidents of disease.
The second study, published in JAMA Neurology, followed more than 78,400 adults aged 40 to 79 for almost seven years. Researchers found a daily step count of 9,826 most reduced risk of dementia but even as few as 3,826 daily steps had an observable effect. Steps performed at a higher intensity had even stronger associations with reduced risk.