Older adults who walk significantly faster than their peers may be showing signs of a healthier brain, according to a new study led by Dr. Joe Verghese, a neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine.

The research, published in the journal *Neurology* on June 16, examined the cognitive function of 4,000 adults aged 80 and older who took part in multiple long-term aging and longevity studies.

Among these participants, between 6% and 10% were classified as “super movers” because they walked at speeds closer to those of people 30 years younger.

The study found that these super movers were about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment compared with others of the same age and gender who had a typical walking pace.

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“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” Verghese told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”

One of the most striking findings, Verghese said, was that super movers maintained strong cognitive function even though brain examinations found similar age-related changes as seen in slower walkers.

In postmortem analysis, researchers reported no significant difference in dementia-related brain pathologies between the two groups.

“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” Verghese said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”

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The study authors emphasized that the findings were observational and do not prove that walking faster can prevent dementia. Some participants may have benefited from other underlying factors such as cardiovascular health, genetic traits or higher physical fitness levels.

“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese added.

He noted that the research builds on existing evidence that fitness and activity benefiting the heart and muscles also support brain health. According to Verghese, “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”

The neurologist cautioned that walking speed should be viewed as a general marker of overall health rather than a treatment or prescription. “Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” he said.

He encouraged seniors to focus on maintaining mobility through consistent activity, including strength training, balance exercises and cardiovascular workouts suited to their ability level.

Public health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week, such as brisk walking.

This recommendation can be met through different routines, such as walking for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or taking shorter walks that add up throughout the day.

“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.”

He added that one of walking’s biggest advantages is its accessibility. “The good thing about walking is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace,” Verghese said. “And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”