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Charisse Tyson's avatar

I walk 10,000 steps every day. I'm going to make sure I pick up my steps for at least 30 minutes now. I wear a Fitbit so I'll be able to make sure I keep it up.

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Heather Hausenblas, PhD's avatar

Great plan! Your Fitbit will keep you on track

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Shenaida R.'s avatar

I usually see how many steps I take on my phone and that’s not always accurate, so having a Fitbit would be a great investment, while also holding me accountable.

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Charisse Tyson's avatar

I’m addicted to walking my 10,000 steps daily now. I missed two days becasue I was sick and it was torture. If you’re going to be additcted to something walking is a good one. 🥰

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Mark Ridsdill Smith's avatar

Haha im addicted too - and have also just had a few days ill. Can’t wait to get going again!

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Adriana Forte's avatar

This article makes so much sense! I consider myself pretty tall so I have longer legs which would make we already walk at a faster pace! But I need to keep that pace up when walking because after reading it's a good thing to do! I also never knew that walking helps with dementia, I will keep that in the back of my head whenever I'm lazy and I want to drive to class!

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Shenaida R.'s avatar

I am also pretty tall and my average pace for walking is faster than some of my friends so I usually slow down in order to be side by side with them. However, after fading this I am going to challenge my friends and challenge myself to pick up the pace !

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Raygan Dixon's avatar

Sometimes, I also feel unmotivated to walk to the cafe or class. This article opened my eyes, and now I aim to walk to class a few times a week. Getting exercise and walking to class would get two things done at once!

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Lucianna Bottke's avatar

Hi Adriana! I am also on the taller side so it is easy for me to walk at a faster pace. I had also never heard that walking lowers risk of dementia. I am so glad I read this post and I am glad it helped someone else.

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Treonna Morant's avatar

When I'm feeling lazy, I just drive instead of walking, even though I know the class isn't that far. Haha, I have a tall friend who walks fast, so I tell her to slow down so I can keep up. Now that I know this, I'm going to try to keep up with her, both because of this information and for my overall health.

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Sam Keough's avatar

I agree! Sometimes, it feels so much easier to drive, but knowing the benefits of walking and how much it could impact my health down the road, I have transitioned to always taking the walking option. It is so easy to walk around campus, especially because of the scenery and how close everything is, which is such a blessing and makes it much easier to incorporate.

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Thomas McFadden's avatar

I agree with this. I also consider myself a fast walker in comparison to people who aren't as tall as me, but now I know that I need to move at a pace that is considered brisk for me. I also didn't realize that It helped with dementia, but I will be considering that moving forward because that's something we all want to avoid

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Mariyah McCrae's avatar

Much understood! Having longer legs gives the head start on faster walking. I'm excited that you are planning to pursue it purposely now! I was shocked by the association with dementia: it's such a small change with significant impacts. Walking to class sounds like the ideal way to sneak in a few steps to pump the brain.

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Amani McGee's avatar

Hey Adriana! I believe that I'm going to keep this information in the back of my head whenever walking to my next class too. It is so easy to get swept up in driving to class or anywhere on campus whenever we have that lazy feeling or for our convenience. I now appreciate the beneficial option for a stroll to my next lecture or meal.

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Lucianna Bottke's avatar

This is very interesting to know. I was aware that walking 10,000 steps a day is good for you and that it lowers your chance of developing dementia, however, I was not aware that walking at a brisk pace can also help with lowering that chance as well. I am going to be more conscious when I go on my walks to pick up the pace a bit!

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Adriana Forte's avatar

I agree! I will be definitely picking up that pace when walking because it is already good for us physical but it's also good for our brain!

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Claire Mrukowski's avatar

I also think this is interesting information, and it is fascinating how just increasing the pace at which we walk can decrease chances of dementia. I also think that after reading this article I will be more conscious of how fast my pace is, I I will challenge myself to pick up the pace too!

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Candice Porter's avatar

I always thought step count was the main factor, but it’s great to know that speed plays a big role too. This is such a small change that can make a big difference in brain health, and upping the pace feels so accessible.

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Shenaida R.'s avatar

I take on average about 12,000 steps or more a day. This is helpful and a great reminder to be more intentional about every step! I did not know how much such a small change in walking pace would have a great impact when it comes to not only my physical but cognitive health. I will definitely try to be more intentional even if it’s just a walk.

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Raygan Dixon's avatar

12,000 steps is excellent! I agree. I also walk a lot throughout the day, but after reading this article, I want to make it a goal to walk more often. Going on daily walks has many benefits, and I want to ensure my body stays healthy, so I am making a new goal to be more intentional when I walk as well!

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Emma Yarbro's avatar

12,000 is an awesome average! You're already on a great path to better long-term memory health, but making that small change in pace seems to make all the difference!

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Lucianna Bottke's avatar

Shenaida, I cannot believe you walk about 12,000 steps a day! That is amazing! I love that this post helped remind you to be more intentional about every step you take and has been a good source of information for you.

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Halie Outcalt's avatar

Hi Shenaida, I take many steps a day as well. I also plan on being more intentional about my walks from now on too. I agree that it is crazy that a small change can mean so much.

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Rob L.'s avatar

It is fantastic that you are achieving beyond the mark! Like you, I was unaware of the benefits of walking for our cognitive health. The article influences us to get those steps in.

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Ava Chrzanowski's avatar

Wow 12,000 steps is awesome! I really like how you noted the intentionality of taking every step, that is a great way to think while on a walk. I also like how it has benefits that help physical and mental health.

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Madelyn Radtke's avatar

I think it is great that you hit 12,000 steps a day on average! I definitely aspire to be like you by walking more in the future. After reading this article, I now understand the importance of adding just one small change to walking patterns and the benefits to go along with it!

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Karis's avatar

I was also surprised at how much the speed could effect the effectiveness. I will definitely keep that in mind for the future!

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Mariyah McCrae's avatar

Geez, that's a lot of steps in a day: 12,000! It is incredible how being so direct in speed can show all the other benefits that come with it- the activity keeps driving into itself even more. I, too, was aghast at how one can influence his cognitive health with such low increments in walking speed. That knew you would go on and do that, like converting an ordinary walk into such an exercise that works the brain, too.

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Lily Carhart's avatar

I agree, it makes me want to be more intentional and aware when taking steps and doing things. It makes me wonder what moving at a higher speed like a jog for 30 minutes could do for your health.

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Raygan Dixon's avatar

Now that I understand the health benefits of walking, I will try to walk more throughout my day. Maybe instead of driving to the cafeteria or practicing on campus, I will walk. Making these healthier goals will help me feel more beneficial while keeping my body healthy. Exercise is crucial to me as I am a college athlete. Since being in college, I often feel unmotivated to go on walks or runs like I do back home since my schedule is so busy. Reading this article gave me a sense of motivation and will help encourage me to go on daily walks.

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Emma Yarbro's avatar

I love that you're planning specific times to walk! If you have a leisure, relaxed mindset about it, your walks will probably be leisurely and relaxed - which is great sometimes! But this post has clearly demonstrated how intention in pace and speed can really make all the difference! I hope it helps you!

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Claire Mrukowski's avatar

That is awesome that you are going to try to walk more throughout your day. After reading this article, it is clear that there are great benefits to walking! I also tend to drive to places out of convenience, but I now realize it would be so beneficial to get more steps in throughout the day. I totally understand how you feel about not wanting to go on walks or runs when you are trying to rest and recover from practices. I would suggest grabbing a few friends or teammates and going on a brisk walk together to make it even more enjoyable!

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Madelyn Radtke's avatar

I agree! I need to start walking instead of driving to places on campus to ensure that I get to the 10,000 step mark and adding the small change of pace. As a fellow college athlete, I think it is importance to still add walking to my everyday schedule even if I am exhausted from lift or practice!

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Emma Yarbro's avatar

Walking is one of my favorite things to do! It's the perfect way to get some movement in, get some fresh air, clear my mind, and reset my headspace. However, I despise running! I find it to be very painful and hard on my joints. I also deal with POTS, so managing my heart rate takes all the fun out of higher intensity exercising. However, this idea of brisk walking seems to be a nice middle ground! I will be sure to give it a try on my next walk - it seems like the perfect way to elevate my heart rate in a controlled way without overexerting myself. I didn't even know about all of the long-term memory benefits! That is another massive plus. I will definetely be incorporating this habit!

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Halie Outcalt's avatar

Hi Emma! I do not like running either! I am glad you have opened your mind to an alternative instead of running. This is something I will need to try as well.

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Ava Chrzanowski's avatar

Emma! I hate running as well. It's like my worst nightmare, and I have tried over and over to try to get into it. I'm sorry about your POTS diagnosis, I know that can be very overwhelming and painful. The long term facts are astounding as well!

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Halie Outcalt's avatar

I wear my apple watch every day and I make sure to close all of my rings. These rings include exercise for at least one hour, standing for 12 hours, and burn at least 700 calories a day. This is something that just helps me stay motivated and push through the day sometimes. Seeing that taking 10,000 steps a day cuts demetia risk by 51% is crazy! Walking around campus at night is something I enjoy doing because it is much cooler at night. Seeing these statistics is something I will keep in mind from now on. I will make sure I am getting at least 10,000 steps a day!

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Treonna Morant's avatar

I have an Apple watch that keeps track of my steps too. but I no longer use it anymore and now I'm reconsidering it. I like how you do this every day and keep yourself motivated because I think I lack the most motivation to push myself to do what I know I need to do. This article and the comments have motivated me to change my ways.

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Rob L.'s avatar

I didn't realize the benefits of walking concerning cutting dementia risks. Thank you for the share of information. Additionally, thanks to my military experience, walking has always been a priority, second only to running. Though in the service, we walk and monitor our pace. The main difference between a leisure walk and the military is that we walk with rucksacks—oversized backpacks, sometimes weighing over 60 pounds. I noticed the benefits of "rucking" in my tenure while serving as my physique significantly changed, in a good way :). A pace of 4mph was the minimum standard; it was snubbed if one would not exceed that standard with a 4.5-5 mph pace. We trained with a minimum weight of 35 lbs when dry, which does not include the mandatory water that must be carried. To this day, I incorporate the activity into my EOD regiment with civilian sector rucks built by a Special Forces Veteran. Before the pandemic, there was a rise in the popular brand "GoRuck." During the COVID-19 outbreak and quarantine, the brand emphasized the benefits of rucking and, to this day, advocates for strong community building through what they refer to as Tribes, which can be found on their website. If you're interested in the benefits, check out their campaign: https://www.goruck.com/blogs/news-stories/the-benefits-of-rucking?

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Ava Chrzanowski's avatar

This article is very motivating because I am walking around campus more and more these days. I have tried running, the gym and other forms of exercise, but I do not like any of it. I have picked up walking, and it is very nice to be outside and do exercise instead of isolating in my room. I noticed that my pace was not as good as it can be when I took a walk with my friend. Her walking pace was faster than mine and I could feel the things stated above, like faster heart rate and having a harder time engaging in a conversation. I even invested in a weight vest to walk with because it adds a little challenge and has so many benefits when walking. I also track my personal walks on Strava, and it is a good tool to help track the distance I go, my pace, and the amount of time I have been walking. I would recommend downloading the app so you can keep your walking pace up!

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Jovan Figueroa's avatar

I love Strava too! I use it mainly to track my runs and weekly mileage, but I also love looking at their maps feature every now and then. It can help diversify your walking routes by seeing what others have made, or even just creating your own route. I recommend checking that feature out.

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Mark Ridsdill Smith's avatar

After my dad got dementia in his mid 60s, I’ve been doing what I can to reduce the risk. But I had no idea walking could have such a positive impact. And I LOVE walking. I got an Apple Watch last year and it’s been a great motivator and measurer. My steps have dipped the last few days due to flue but I’m off to the Cairngorms next week for five days walking in the mountains- so that should get it back up again! Thanks for raising awareness of this.

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Karis's avatar

I am so sorry to hear about your father. It's cool that you are being so proactive about your own health! I hope you enjoy your trip to the mountains!

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Treonna Morant's avatar

I never knew that walking could help with dementia; this is new information to me. I don't walk as much as I should because I drive everywhere, even to class sometimes. However, I have started walking to class now because I feel my body doesn't get the proper exercise, especially at my age. I'm on the shorter side, haha, so my legs don't move fast, but I do get out of breath quickly sometimes when I sing(probably because I'm not used to walking). I think this is great information to know because my grandma's memory is starting to decline, and if going for a walk with her can help prevent dementia, then I'm all for it.

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E.D.'s avatar

That’s such a great takeaway from the article! I didn’t realize how much walking could impact dementia risk either, but the research really makes a strong case for picking up the pace. It’s awesome that you’re making an effort to walk more, even if it’s just to class—every little bit helps! And honestly, being out of breath while singing might actually be a good sign that your body is getting used to more movement.

Walking with your grandma sounds like a beautiful idea. Even if it doesn’t completely stop memory decline, it could still be beneficial for both her physical and mental health—and a great way for you to bond.

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Claire Mrukowski's avatar

Prior to reading this article, I was unaware that waking could help prevent dementia. This is fascinating to me, and I am even more amazed at how increasing the speed at which one walks can have even more significant effects! I love to walk with my friends and talk, and now I know that if we pick up the pace to a brisk walk we can potentially cut dementia risks by 62%. Who knew something as simple as walking could have such beneficial effects not only for short term health, but also long term.

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Thomas McFadden's avatar

I know the dementia part was new information to me as well. I knew it could help with physical health and things but never dementia, and cutting it by such a wide margin is an amazing thing for just some brisk walking

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Madelyn Radtke's avatar

I found this article super interesting and informative. I always knew that walking was good for your and I always try to hit 10,000 steps a day, but I had no idea that the way that you walked mattered. After reading this, I plan on making my walks more brisk and fast paced instead of strolling.

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Candice Porter's avatar

It’s a great reminder that it’s not just about the length of the walk, it’s about the quality of that walk. It’s intriguing to see how a small change in the pace can affect the brain so much. From now on, I will pay more attention to my walking speed.

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Sam Keough's avatar

I enjoyed reading this article because it supports one of the things I love to do most! I have become an avid walker over the past two years, using it as a way to decompress after a hard day or stressful week. I walk at a quicker pace too, usually listening to a podcast that makes the time fly by. It is very interesting to know the science behind how something as simple as walking can actually reduce the risk of developing dementia, something most people would probably not think of. My grandfather had dementia and grew up in a time when this was not known information. These studies always make me wonder how different his life would be if he were to have added a brisk walk into his weekly routine.

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Thomas McFadden's avatar

I do not walk enough because it is easier to drive places, and I have been wanting to walk more because I know simply walking for a couple of hours a day can help with my health. Now I know I also need to focus on the speed at which I am walking and how much I am walking so that I Could have improved health. I never really considered that brisk walking would be better for you than walking normal

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