Whether we like it or not, walking is an integral part of our daily life. However, few people knew until now that walking slowly or quickly is a health indicator and can ring "bells" for future health problems. Fast or slow walking
Duke University research led toA surprising conclusion for many. Neither more nor less, it showed that the brain and body of people who walk slowly compared to those who walk faster is more aged at the age of 45.
Premature old age
The study published in the scientific review "JAMA Network Open", showed that those who walk more slowly "age faster" and their lungs, teeth and immune system are in worse condition compared to those who walk faster.
Terri Moffitt, lead author of the study, explains that previous research has already shown that people aged 70 to 80 who walk more slowly tend to die earlier than those who walk faster.
However, the new data resulting from this research show that slow walking from younger ages can accelerate the onset of some diseases and health problems.
Fast or slow walking
Lead researcher Laine Rasmussen of Duke University's department of psychology and neuroscience emphasizes that what is truly groundbreaking about this research is that it dealt with 45-year-olds who do not constitute the usual geriatric population.
What did the neuropsychological tests show?
She emphasized that the neuropsychological tests to which the participants were subjected during their childhood were good predictors of future gait speed.
The effects of slow walking
The participants underwent brain MRIs and it was found that their brains looked significantly older compared to those who walked faster.
Specifically, those who used to walk more slowly, showed, among other things, a smaller total area of the cerebral cortex, reduced brain volume, etc.
Of course, the researchers pointed out that slow walking is not responsible for everything. The occurrence of health problems is influenced by several factors that may be related to our lifestyle.
Whether we exercise, eat right, drink too much alcohol or smoke.
This study involved 904 people from New Zealand who were observed between April 2017 and April 2019, when they were 45 years old.
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