(MENAFN) Walking between 5,000 and 7,500 steps a day could help slow biological changes in the brain linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research by Australian and international scientists.

The long-term study, published in Nature Medicine, followed 294 adults aged 50 to 90 with normal cognitive function for up to 14 years. Researchers monitored participants’ daily step counts, brain performance, and the buildup of Alzheimer’s-related proteins. The findings were detailed Tuesday in a statement from Springer Nature, released via the Australian Science Media Centre.

The analysis revealed that higher physical activity correlated with a slower decline in brain function, which in turn was connected to reduced accumulation of Alzheimer’s-associated proteins.

“Those who show signs of early Alzheimer’s in their brains may be able to slow its development with moderate daily exercise,” said researchers from the University of Melbourne, Mass General Brigham (affiliated with Harvard Medical School in the United States), and the University of Toronto in Canada.

Participants who averaged more than 5,000 steps per day experienced slower deterioration in memory and thinking skills. This was directly tied to reduced buildup of tau, a key protein implicated in Alzheimer’s progression.

According to the study, both tau accumulation and cognitive decline appeared to stabilize at a moderate activity level—between 5,001 and 7,500 steps per day. Even lighter activity, around 3,000 to 5,000 steps daily, was linked to a measurable slowing of tau buildup and mental decline.

With digital wearables like smartwatches now commonplace, the researchers noted that the results point to “an accessible physical activity goal that could encourage greater engagement among older sedentary adults.”

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