Walking Benefits

Time to step it up. Walking at least six miles per week in midlife can help protect your memory when you’re older.

Walking is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get your exercise. Not only can it help stave off weight gain, a regular walking habit can also protect the brain in old age.

Research published in the journal Neurology shows that walking six to nine miles per week can help preserve memory when you’re older. According to one of the study’s authors, our brains shrink as we get older, which can cause memory problems. Regular physical activity, like walking six to nine miles a week, appears to protect brain size and reduce the risk of later-life memory problems.

If you’re having a hard time squeezing a half-hour walk into your day, divide into two 15-minute walks – one at lunchtime, and another after work.