A new study has found an association between taking fewer daily steps and increased risks of brain disorders, highlighting how smartphones can be used to monitor physical activity without the need for additional devices.
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In an age of growing convenience, maintaining daily physical activity has become increasingly difficult, contributing to rising rates of obesity and related diseases. Even walking a few thousand steps a day can be challenging in a lifestyle that keeps many people seated at desks for hours, while cars and transport services reduce opportunities to walk throughout the day.
However, the findings of new research suggest it may be time to reconsider these habits.
According to the study, walking fewer than 5,000 steps a day is associated with significantly higher risks of dementia, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.
These risks may be more than twice as high as those faced by people who walk at least 12,000 steps daily.
The study offers another reminder of the importance of simple physical activity, even when it requires little effort, and its potential role in maintaining cardiovascular and brain health over the long term.
Study involving more than 22,000 people
The study was presented at the 151st annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. It drew on data collected over a full year from wearable fitness trackers used by more than 22,000 people.
The researchers said in a press release that people who were less physically active were more likely to experience obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression than those who were more active.
The data revealed clear differences in health indicators across three groups classified according to their average daily step counts.
The least active group, whose members averaged around 4,800 steps a day, had an average body mass index (BMI) of 32.1, which falls within the obesity range. A normal BMI for adults generally ranges from 18.5 to 24.9.
Diabetes prevalence in this group was 5.6%, while 13.4% had high blood pressure and 8.6% experienced depression.
The moderately active group, averaging around 8,300 steps a day, had an average BMI of 28.4. Diabetes prevalence fell to 2.5%, high blood pressure to 9.5%, and depression to 5.1%.
By contrast, the most active group, averaging around 12,600 steps daily, showed better health indicators. Its average BMI was 26.5, diabetes prevalence was 2%, high blood pressure prevalence was 9.2%, and depression prevalence fell to 3.1%.
Lower physical activity linked to higher risks of brain disorders
The study found that lower levels of physical activity were associated with higher rates of diagnoses of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), also known as mini strokes.
The difference in diagnosis rates for these conditions reached 80% between the most active and least active groups.
Data from people who walked around 8,000 or 12,000 steps daily also showed lower BMI figures, along with reduced rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and depression.
These findings point to an association between greater physical activity and improvements in several health indicators. However, they do not, on their own, establish that taking fewer steps directly causes these diseases.
Do you need a smartwatch to count your steps?
Some people may assume that tracking daily steps requires a smartwatch, fitness band or smart ring. However, these devices are not necessary for people who simply want to know how much they walk.
Smartphones can record step counts with accuracy approaching that of wearable devices.
Users do not need to hold their phones throughout a walk. Placing a phone in a trouser pocket is enough for it to record steps automatically while they move.
Scientific studies have confirmed that smartphone apps can provide a reliable way to monitor daily physical activity.
Studies confirm smartphones’ accuracy in counting steps
According to a study published in the scientific journal Sensors, researchers compared the accuracy of six mobile phone apps with that of fitness trackers worn on the wrist.
The study found that smartphone apps counted steps with accuracy broadly comparable to that of fitness-tracking bands.
In another study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, participants were asked to walk on a treadmill while wearing various physical activity trackers.
The results showed that smartphone apps were more accurate at counting steps than some of the fitness bands tested in the experiment.
Although wearable devices have become more accurate in subsequent years, smartphone apps remain a reliable option for tracking daily step counts.
How can you use your phone to monitor your steps?Google Fit can record users’ steps using sensors built into their smartphones, without requiring an additional device.
However, Google is preparing to discontinue the app soon and move users to the more advanced Health Connect app, making the transition worth considering.
Other third-party apps are also available, including StepsApp Pedometer and Pacer Pedometer, along with other applications designed to count steps and track physical activity.
These tools allow users to monitor their daily movement and see how close they are to their walking goals using a phone they already carry.
Such tools can make tracking physical activity easier, particularly for people who spend long hours working at desks or rely on cars for most of their travel.
The study’s findings suggest that greater daily movement is associated with better health indicators, reinforcing the importance of paying attention to step counts as a simple measure of physical activity.
