Explore the benefits of walking for seniors, including dementia risk reduction and improved cognitive health, as highlighted on World Health Day.
World Health Day
World Health Day, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), falls on April 7th every year. The organization chose this date to commemorate its founding anniversary (it was established on 7/4/1948). This year, World Health Day revolves around the importance of pursuing a healthy and sound lifestyle for older adults. This isn’t just about prolonging their lifespan, but about ensuring a high quality of life in their golden years and allowing them to enjoy a fulfilling and beneficial life for themselves and their communities.
Here at Vitalo360, we extend our greetings to our users and offer them crucial tips to maintain good health, especially physical exercise like walking.
Walking Reduces the Risk of Dementia
Walking can reduce the risk of dementia in older adults, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers from the United States followed 2,257 men between the ages of 71 and 93 from Hawaii. They tracked how far the participants walked each day, and after several years, they analyzed the correlation between walking and the incidence of dementia in this group who underwent examinations for five years. The research identified 158 cases of dementia. The average age at diagnosis was 84.
The analysis of the results showed that individuals who walked less than 0.4 kilometers daily (0.25 miles) were 1.8 times more likely to develop dementia compared to those who walked more than 3.2 kilometers daily (2 miles). Compared to those who walked more than 3.2 kilometers daily, the risk of dementia was notably higher among those who walked between 0.4 and 1.6 kilometers daily, and among those who walked less than 0.4 kilometers daily.
The results also indicated that men who walked longer distances scored higher on cognitive tests.
It’s worth noting that the study did not include women. Studies conducted on women and examining the relationship between walking and cognitive changes suggest that this correlation might also exist for women.
World Health Day, healthy lifestyle, older adults, walking, dementia prevention, cognitive health
