Does Alzheimer's worry you? According to recent research, you should start walking.

The link between mind and body Although the new research did not demonstrate a uniform walking schedule, Barha recommends walking several times a day to avoid sedentary behavior and maintaining consistent walking habits annually to prevent cognitive decline. "More research is needed to define the number of steps required, but certainly the more research the better," he said. "The next step would be to try to establish the minimum distance that different subgroups must travel, such as men and women, APOE4 carriers and non-carriers." Research conducted in 2022 found that people who walked around 3,800 steps daily, regardless of speed, decreased their likelihood of suffering from dementia by 25%. Barha first explained that it has been proven that regular physical activity helps the body produce more of a protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which acts as a brain fertilizer, helping to create new cells and connections. Exercise is theorized to decrease neuroinflammation, which is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease. The brain, to combat plaque buildup, sends immune cells called microglia. However, this can be harmful, said Dr. Christiane Wrann, associate professor of medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiovascular Research Center and Harvard Medical School. Microglia can begin to attack healthy brain cells and damage brain connections if chronic inflammation persists. Wrann said, "If you exercise, you're actually strengthening the gene expression program that microglia need to perform properly."