July 22, 2026
ByJoyce Hendley,
Staff Writer
- Reviewed byRobert H. Shmerling, MD,
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Share
Print This Page
Here’s some good news if you’re a fast walker — and an incentive to pick up the pace if you’re not: findings from a study published July 14, 2026, in Neurology suggest that older adults who maintain a brisk natural walking pace into their 80s and beyond may be protecting their brains
Researchers analyzed data from five major aging studies involving nearly 4,000 older adults with an average age of about 84 (47% to 65% female, depending on the study), as well as from two smaller studies of adults 80 and older that used brain scans or examined brain tissue after death. The research team then separated out data from participants they dubbed “super-movers,” who walked faster than about 93% of their peers on timed walking tests
The analysis yielded striking results. Compared with their slower-walking peers, super-movers were about 50% less likely to develop cognitive impairment over follow-up periods ranging from 3.4 to 5.4 years, and 60% less likely to report a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Their memory and thinking skills also declined more slowly over time, as measured by memory recall, processing speed, and mental flexibility tests
Brain scans showed that super-movers tended to have a larger hippocampus — a key brain region for memory. Intriguingly, in the post-death brain tissue analyses, super-movers and non-super-movers had similar amounts of Alzheimer’s disease–linked brain changes. This suggests that the super-movers weren’t immune to the underlying biology of dementia, but perhaps had more resilient brains that were better able to function well despite it
These findings can’t prove that walking fast boosts brain health, but they echo other research connecting physical vitality to cognitive vitality in later life. For now, staying active is a solid strategy to help you — and your brain — age well
Image: © vitranc/Getty Images
About the Author
Joyce Hendley,
Staff Writer
Joyce Hendley is a staff writer who contributes articles to Harvard Health Publishing’s flagship website and its four newsletters: the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Heart Letter, Harvard Women’s Health Watch, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch. She …
See Full Bio
View all posts by Joyce Hendley
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD,
Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling is the former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), and is a current member of the corresponding faculty in medicine at Harvard Medical School. …
See Full Bio
View all posts by Robert H. Shmerling, MD
Share
Print This Page
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician
