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Dogs and humans both can get dementia. More walks can help.

Two studies offer new data about the precise amounts of walking that best protect brains — both canine and human

By
November 16, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EST
Lulu, left, and Coco, right, both age 4, are walked twice a day, seven days a week, by their owner Sandi Hiyane in Henderson, Nev. (Video: Alexa Juliana Ard/The Washington Post)
6 min

Whether you walk on two legs — or gambol happily on four and happen to bark — being physically active lowers the risk of developing dementia with age, according to two new studies involving people and dogs.

One of the studies monitored the activities of 15,019 pet dogs. The other tracked the daily steps of 78,430 men and women. Together they provide inspiring data about the precise amounts of walking that best protect brains and also how detrimental excessive sitting — and staying — can be.