Getting old might not be something that's yet to cross your mind. But ageing is inevitably¹ going to get the better of us one day, so it's something I'm sure we'd all like control. It would be great to have a long, healthy and happy life, and that's why scientists are constantly seeking out evidence that will show us what we need to do to achieve longevity².

 

We all know that regular exercise is good for us. In recent years we've been told to aim to walk 10,000 steps a day to remain healthy, although other advice to do three brisk³ 10-minute walks a day is thought to be even more effective. But the latest piece of research might put a spring in your step if you're someone who walks at a fast pace. That's because, according to scientists, the speed at which people walk in their 40s is a sign of how much their brains, as well as their bodies, are ageing.

 

The BBC's Philippa Roxby writes that tests on 1,000 people from New Zealand born in the 1970s found that slower walkers tended to show signs of "accelerated⁴ ageing". Their lungs, teeth and immune⁵ systems were in worse shape than those who walked faster. And to add insult⁶ to injury, the study found not only did slower walkers' bodies age more quickly, their faces looked older and they had smaller brains. Professor Terrie E Moffitt, lead author of the study, told the BBC: "[it] found that a slow walk is a problem sign decades before old age."

 

This might be seen as a wake-up call for people with a slower gait who might feel it's time to work out and get fitter. But it might be too late; researchers writing in JAMA Network Open say they were able to predict the walking speed of 45-year-olds using the results of intelligence, language and motor skills tests from when they were aged⁷ three. They also suggest that even in early life, there are signs showing which people will go on to have a healthier life.

 

So, what's the point of knowing that a slower walking pace might mean a smaller brain? Well, researchers say measuring walking speed at a younger age, and understanding what this might mean, could be a way of testing treatments to slow human ageing. This might help us make lifestyle changes while we're still young and healthy. Any steps we can take to prolong⁸ a good mental and physical state is a no brainer!

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