The walking speed of a person can reveal how healthy and mentally fit he is. Who can go in the middle age faster, and is biologically younger and more intelligent than slow goer, write researchers in order to Line Jee Hartmann Rasmussen from Duke University in the U.S. state of North Carolina in the journal “Jama Network Open”. The special feature of the study: The participants were 45 years of age. Previously, this connection was especially clear for older people.
Of the 904 subjects in the study were born in 1972 or 1973, in the new Zealand city of Dunedin, and have been investigated since then, again and again medical. This includes a gait analysis and a brain scan were. For the current investigation, the participants should first go to your normal speed, then they had to solve tasks and, finally, so go fast as you can.
Slow biologically five years older
Formally, all the participants were in approximately the same age, but the researchers also identified their biological age on the basis of various measured values such as blood pressure, respiratory volume and heart rate. In addition, the rating of a Jury, which estimated the age of the subjects on the basis of their appearance flowed.
The result: Some of the subjects were as healthy and fit as you were several years younger. The effect was particularly the case with the maximum speed. Those who were able to go fast, had remained young. The fifth of the subjects with the lowest walking speed was between 26. and the 45. The age of five years aged faster biologically than the fastest walking fifth.
The slowest walkers also showed an average of 16 points lower intelligence quotient than the fastest goer, and a smaller thickness of the cerebral cortex.
That exercise can promote mental Fitness, is already known from previous studies is known. The world health organization (WHO) has recommended more Recently a movement for the prevention of dementia. Why fit people are mentally healthier, is unclear. It could be, for example, that intelligent people move on average more. But would also be conceivable that the movement keeps the brain healthy.
In the current study, the subjects, the sections at the age of three years rather bad module, with 45 years, often to the slower walkers. At the time, a child neurologist assessed on the basis of standardized Tests, how intelligent the children were, how well they were able to talk as well as the motor skills and social behavior. “Maybe we have a Chance, here, who will cut off later in life for health better,” says Rasmussen. Extremely slow Walk could also point to possible changes in the Central nervous system in childhood.
“The speed seems to be a valuable Signal for potential health problems in adults in middle age,” says Stephanie Studenski of the University of Pittsburgh, who was not involved in the investigation.
How much should a person per day to stay healthy, is controversial. Researchers have growing doubts about the much-cited the 10,000-steps-a rule that is not based on scientific studies, but on a publicity stunt. (Read more about it here.) Recent analyses indicate that 6000 to 8000 steps a day can promote the health of similar.