Two studies from JAMA Neurology and JAMA Internal Medicine in September 2022 investigated the connection between daily step count, intensity of steps and an increased health benefit. They collected health data from more than 75,000 people in the UK between 2013 and 2015 and revisited the data seven years later. The subjects in the study did not have cardiovascular disease, cancer or dementia when the research first began.
For every 2,000 steps, risk of heart disease, cancer and premature death decreases by about 10%, peaking at 10,000 steps each day, the research shows. If you achieve 9,800 steps, there is a drop in risk of dementia by 50%. There was also a 25% lower risk for those who walked about 3,800 steps daily.
The most health benefits were found in those who walked more briskly. For those who walked about 80 steps per minute, it reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature death more than other groups. Walking at a faster pace also proved to be beneficial for lowering risk of dementia. At 112 steps per minute, individuals were able to lower their reduction risk of the condition by 38%.