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Neuro specialist: Why healthy legs could mean a healthier brain

# A 2022 study found something striking: older adults with slower walking speeds showed signs of smaller brain volume and were more likely to experience cognitive decline. It's not just about stiff knees or tired muscles. Walking is much more than a physical act


Here's what Dr Arun L Naik, MCh (Neurosurgery), AIIMS New Delhi, has to say about how this simple activity could be a predictor of cognitive health. 


# Movement as a mirror of the mind


When the legs move, a network of brain regions lights up. Every step calls upon the frontal lobe (for planning), cerebellum (for balance), and spinal cord (for signal transmission). Even the feet send sensory feedback back to the brain.


This partnership between brain and body means that walking isn't just exercise, it's a real-time reflection of cognitive health. Subtle changes in gait or coordination might actually be early warnings, long before memory lapses begin.


Walking patterns have, in fact, been shown to shift years before any cognitive diagnosis is made. It's almost as if the legs are whispering a warning the brain hasn't yet spoken aloud. 


The brain's own growth factor responds to walking


# Another hidden benefit of walking? It stimulates the release of something called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Think of BDNF as the brain's internal gardener, it helps neurons grow, form new connections, and survive longer.


This isn't just theory. Consistent walking routines can raise BDNF levels, helping to preserve cognitive function even as the years pass. In simple terms, walking feeds the brain not only with blood, but with the tools it needs to stay sharp.

Collated by Dr M Khalid Munir, MBBS, C Diab , Hyderabad. 

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