A recent study (Yau et al. 2025) examined the relationship between steps per day and cognitive decline.
The researchers investigated a cohort of 296 older participants, without cognitive decline at the start of the study and looked at the relationship between steps taken per day and cognitive decline measured both functionally and through biomarkers. The participants were followed for up to 14 years.
They found an inverse curvilinear relationship with the maximum benefit from stepping seen at 5,000-7,500 steps per day with a higher number of steps slowing the rate of cognitive decline.
Yau WW, Kirn DR, Rabin JS, Properzi MJ, Schultz AP, Shirzadi Z, Palmgren K, Matos P, Maa C, Pruzin JJ, Schultz SA, Buckley RF, Rentz DM, Johnson KA, Sperling RA, Chhatwal JP. Physical activity as a modifiable risk factor in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. Nat Med. 2025 Dec;31(12):4075-4083. doi: 10.1038/s41591-025-03955-6. Epub 2025 Nov 3. PMID: 41184638; PMCID: PMC12705434.