According to a new study involving 649, 605 military veterans in the United States, people with greater physical fitness are at a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than people with less physical fitness.

The average age of participants, none of whom had Alzheimer’s Disease at the beginning of the study, was 61 and they were followed for an average of nine years. They were divided into five groups, ranging from least fit to most fit. The group with the highest level of fitness were walking briskly for 150 minutes or more per week, divided up amongst most days of the week. 

The results?

Those in the fittest group reduced their chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 33% compared to the people in the least fit group. The people in the next most fit group reduced their chances by an average of 26%, the middle group reduced their chances by 20% and members of the second least fit group reduced their odds by 13%.

These are impressive results that once again prove that #exerciseismedicine. And walking is one of the best available activities that can be done by most people almost anywhere. No fancy equipment is needed.