日行5000步或能延缓阿尔茨海默病进展

Core Findings - A 14-year longitudinal study published in Nature Medicine indicates that walking more than 5,000 steps daily may effectively slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in cognitively healthy older adults [1][2] - The study reveals that moderate exercise significantly reduces the accumulation rate of tau protein in the brains of preclinical patients, thereby slowing cognitive decline [1] - This research provides a clear and achievable exercise goal for older adults and opens new avenues for early intervention in Alzheimer's disease [1] Study Details - The research analyzed data from 294 cognitively intact older adults (ages 50-90) from the Harvard Aging Brain Study, including step counts, longitudinal amyloid and tau PET imaging data, and cognitive assessments over up to 14 years [1] - Increased physical activity is associated with slower cognitive decline related to amyloid plaque, indicating a protective effect of exercise [1] - The benefits of exercise are linked to the slowing of tau protein accumulation rather than changes in amyloid pathology [1] Activity Levels - Moderate activity levels of 5,001 to 7,500 steps per day are associated with stable tau protein accumulation and cognitive function [1] - Encouragingly, even light activity levels (3,001 to 5,000 steps daily) are significantly correlated with reduced tau protein accumulation and cognitive decline [1][2] Implications for Technology - The findings suggest that increasing physical activity may help delay tau pathology and cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease [2] - The rise of digital wearable devices, such as smartwatches, makes it easier to achieve the exercise goals proposed by the study, potentially motivating sedentary older adults to engage in more physical activity [2]