How many steps you should take every day to avoid losing your mind

Walking has huge benefits for mental health, according to a recent study that looked at the chances of developing dementia in relation to physical activity.

Specifically, according to the study published in the journal JAMA Neurology, people between 40 and 79 years old who participated and took 9,826 steps a day were 50% less likely to develop dementia within seven years. Also, those who walked faster, at a rate of at least 40 steps per minute, reduced their risk of dementia by 57% with just 6,315 steps per day.

Even people who walked about 3,800 steps a day at any speed reduced their risk of dementia by 25%. «It's a message that doctors could use for older adults who lead sedentary lives - 4,000 steps is quite an achievable goal for many, even for those who are less active or unmotivated,» Borja del Pozo Cruz, one of the study's authors and an assistant professor at the University of Southern Denmark, told CNN.

But the most striking finding of the study may be this: the biggest reduction in the risk of dementia (by 62%) was seen in those who walked at the fairly brisk pace of 112 steps per minute for half an hour every day. «We agree that this is a very interesting finding. As we understand it, the intensity of walking matters. More important than the number of steps,» del Pozo Cruz noted to CNN.

It should be noted, of course, that this rate may not be feasible or safe for people of all ages or with different health conditions. Therefore, in any case, one should consult one's doctor.

The procedure

The researchers analysed data from at least 78,000 people between the ages of 40 and 79 who wore biometric watches. Depending on their total daily step count, participants were divided into two categories: those who took fewer than 40 steps per day and those who took more. The researchers also closely monitored those who recorded excellent performance in terms of pace, with the most steps within thirty minutes.

Then, the researchers compared the number of steps with their diagnosis of each type of dementia after seven years. Age, ethnicity, education, gender, socio-emotional status and some habits or illnesses were also taken into account in the final data.

In any case, the researchers themselves stated that this was an observational and observational study and that there was no evidence of a link between the number of steps and a reduction in the risk of dementia. The study also noted that the age range of the participants may have resulted in limited cases of dementia or that there may have actually been more and not been identified.