Reading - Your Walking Speed: A Secret About Your Brain's Age!

Hey everyone! Did you know that something as simple as how fast you walk can tell us a lot about your brain's age? It's true! Scientists are discovering amazing things about this everyday activity.

Imagine you're walking to the store, to the park, or to catch the bus. How fast do you usually go? It turns out that your walking speed isn't just about how fast your legs can move. It also shows how well your brain is working!

Why is walking speed important?

Think about it: when you walk, many parts of your body and brain work together. Your muscles, your eyes, your heart, and especially your brain, are all doing their job. If your brain is aging faster, it can make you walk a bit slower.

It's normal to walk a little slower as we get older. But if someone's walking speed drops suddenly, it might be a sign that something else is happening with their health. As Christina Dieli-Conwright, a professor who studies exercise, says, "When a person's normal walking pace declines, it is often associated with underlying health declines." This means their body might not be as strong, or their joints might not move as easily.

How can you test your walking speed?

It's super easy! You just need a stopwatch and a way to measure distance.

• 10-meter test: Find an open space. Measure out 10 meters (about 33 feet). Walk for 5 meters to get to your normal speed, then time how long it takes you to walk the next 10 meters at your usual pace.
• Calculation: Divide 10 meters by the time in seconds. For example, if it took you 8 seconds, your speed is 1.25 m/s.
• 4-meter test (for smaller spaces): Measure out 4 meters (about 13 feet). Walk for 1 meter to get up to speed, then time how long it takes to walk the next 4 meters.
• Calculation: Divide 4 meters by the time in seconds.

What's a normal speed?

Here are some average walking speeds:

• 40-49 years old: Women: 1.39 m/s, Men: 1.43 m/s
• 50-59 years old: Women: 1.31 m/s, Men: 1.43 m/s
• 60-69 years old: Women: 1.24 m/s, Men: 1.43 m/s
• 70-79 years old: Women: 1.13 m/s, Men: 1.26 m/s
• 80-89 years old: Women: 0.94 m/s, Men: 0.97 m/s

You can also use fitness apps on your phone like Walkmeter or Google Fit to help you measure your speed!

Walking and your brain's age

Studies have shown that even at 45 years old, a person's walking speed can predict how fast their body and brain are aging. Slower walkers might have signs of "accelerated aging," meaning their body systems (like lungs or immune system) are not as good as those who walk faster. They also score lower on memory tests and their brains might show changes on scans.

But don't worry if you're a "slow walker"! The good news is that you can do something about it. Walking more often, even for short breaks during the day, can help you improve your speed and keep your brain and body healthy. So, next time you're going somewhere, try to walk a little faster! It's good for you!

Read the full original article here.

VOCABULARY

reveal: to show something that was hidden before

The detective's work revealed the truth about the case.

insight: a clear understanding of something

Reading this article gave me new insights into healthy living.

trivial: not important; small and not serious

Don't worry about trivial problems.

predict: to say what will happen in the future

The weather app can predict if it will rain tomorrow.

assess: to carefully consider a situation or person to make a judgment

The teacher will assess the students' progress.

decline: a slow decrease in something

There was a decline in the number of visitors this year.

underlying: something that exists under the surface, or is the real reason for something

The doctor looked for the underlying cause of her pain.

sedentary: spending a lot of time sitting and not moving much

A sedentary lifestyle can be bad for your health.

gait: a person's way of walking

She had a slow and steady gait.

cohort: a group of people who are studied over a long period of time

The study followed a cohort of students from childhood to adulthood.

ACTIVITIES

1 - Choose the correct answer.

2 - True or False?

3 - Match the vocabulary word with its definition.

4 - After reading this article, are you surprised by what your walking speed might say about your brain's age? Why or why not? What is one simple change you can make to your daily routine to walk more?