Healthy people, even as they age, walk quickly and vigorously. If walking speed noticeably slows down and appears weak, it may indicate abnormal brain waves. According to the American health portal 'Thehealthy,' previous studies have shown that healthy elderly individuals over 60 years old have a walking speed of more than 1 meter per second. However, even healthy seniors over 85 years old experience a slowdown in walking speed to less than 0.9 meters per second.

So, roughly at what walking speed do cognitive function problems begin to appear in older adults? According to joint research conducted by the Aging and Health Research Center at Aston University in the UK and the Cuba Longevity and Aging Health Research Center, about 86% of seniors over 60 with a walking speed of less than 0.8 meters per second showed abnormalities in brain wave activity. For elderly individuals whose walking speed drops below a certain level, abnormal changes occur in the frequency composition of brain waves, which can lead to cognitive impairment.

It was particularly analyzed that when walking speed drops below 0.6 meters per second, there is a higher correlation with admission to nursing homes and hospitals as well as death. This is based on an analysis of 95 elderly individuals living independently in Havana, Cuba. The research findings (Association between gait speed deterioration and EEG abnormalities) were published in the international journal PLOS One.

Dr. Valeria Rodriguez, a neurophysiologist at Aston University in the UK, stated, "People with walking speeds of less than 0.8 meters per second, that is, those who cannot walk 48 meters in a minute, show abnormalities in brain waves." She added, "This indicates that walking speed can be an early indicator of cognitive decline. It's important to pay close attention to small changes that occur with aging." If a person typically walks faster and more energetically, covering more than 60 meters per minute (a walking speed of over 1.0 meters per second), their brain can be considered very healthy. Early symptoms of dementia include forgetfulness, losing objects, loss of sense of direction, and difficulty finding the right words.

 

 

According to the research findings, individuals with a walking speed of less than 0.8 meters per second are three times more likely to experience abnormal brain waves. It was also analyzed that the risk of causing brain function impairment is 87% higher. The decline in walking speed and the slow frequency composition of brain waves suggest that these may serve as indicators of brain health in older adults. Meanwhile, muscle strength is known to decrease by 1.5% annually, and after the age of 60, it decreases by 3% each year.

 

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Muscle strength decreases by 1.5% each year, and after the age of 60, it declines by 3% annually.

As you age, maintaining active physical activity and adequate nutrition helps preserve muscle mass.

The reduction in strength must be minimized.

Research has shown that people with slowed walking speed have abnormalities in their brain waves.

 

Muscle strength decreases by 1.5% each year. We should manage muscle strength before that.

Managing diet while exercising

You should check your own walking speed.