Walking Boosts Brain Health

Walking Boosts Brain Health

 

There's yet another reason to pick that walkable community you've been thinking about for your next home. Walking is good for brain health and could contribute to keeping seniors more cognitively fit. 

 

That's according to new research by the BRAiN Lab at Colorado State University. It shows that aerobic exercise, particularly walking, positively affects – refreshes – the brain’s white matter. "White matter deterioration is associated with cognitive impairment in healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease," says the study. 

 

So even if you've been inactive during the pandemic, putting on your walking shoes could improve your well-being.

 

And living somewhere that allows for regular strolls and running errands on foot makes daily walks all the easier. 

 

Walkable communities also improve satisfaction, according to a pair of studies, the “Community and Transportation Preference Surveys”, conducted by the National Association of REALTORS^® earlier this year. 

 

Respondents who strongly agree that there are "lots of places to walk nearby" show an 8% increase in quality of life, for example. And older generations – Gen X and beyond – and those with higher incomes showed an increased interest in walkability. 

 

So, when you're scoping out new neighborhoods, watch for the elements that make them walkable. According to Walkscore, they are: 

 

• A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it's a main street or a public space.
• People: Enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.
• Mixed-income, mixed-use: Affordable housing located near businesses.
• Parks and public space: Plenty of public places to gather and play.
• Pedestrian design: Buildings are close to the street and parking lots are relegated to the back.
• Schools and workplaces: Close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
• Complete streets: Streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit.

 

Walkscore ranked the United States’ most walkable cities in 2020, and the top five are: 

 

1. New York City (88 out of 100)      

2. San Francisco (87.4)

3. Boston (82.0)

4. Philadelphia (78.8)

5. Miami (77.6)

 

You also can find walkability scores for neighborhoods within major cities, other U.S. cities, and individual addresses at WalkScore.

 

Additional resources: 

 

Here are some ways to learn more about walkable communities, how to incorporate walking into your day-to-day life, and where to find walking groups. 

 

-Build a Better Burb

-How much physical activity do older adults need?

-How to find a walking club

-Start or Join a Walking Club

-Walk Your Way to a Better Life

Contributed Article from Elyse Umlauf-Garneau, SRES Writer

#seniorrealestatespecialists #sres #seniorhealth

#seniorwellness #brainenergy #walking #walkability #walkscore

#greenwaldgerke #seniorstayorgo