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Walking 3,000 or more steps a day may slow progression of Alzheimer’s, study says

Even modest amounts of daily exercise may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in older people who are at risk of developing the condition, researchers have said.

People are often encouraged to clock up 10,000 steps a day as part of a healthy routine, but scientists found 3,000 steps or more appeared to delay the brain changes and cognitive decline that Alzheimer’s patients experience.

Results from the 14-year-long study showed cognitive decline was delayed by an average of three years in people who walked 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day, and by seven years in those who managed 5,000 to 7,000 steps daily.

“We’re encouraging older people who are at risk of Alzheimer’s to consider making small changes to their activity levels, to build sustained habits that protect or benefit their brain and cognitive health,” said Dr Wai-Ying Yau, the first author on the study at Mass General Brigham hospital in Boston. Dementia affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide, with Alzheimer’s disease the most common cause.

Yau, W.-Y. W. et al. “Walking 3,000 or more steps a day may slow progression of Alzheimer’s, study says.” The Guardian, 3 Nov 2025.