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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

Listen up, ladies! Its time for us to pull on our running shoes and hit the treadmill or the trail and get those steps in! According to a new study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, the more steps and overall physical activity women get the lesser their risk of developing dementia or other cognitive impairment later in life becomes.

This study tracked and analyzed the daily activity of a group of women as they went about their day. On average, these women walked 3,216 steps, had 276 minutes of light physical activity, 45.5 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity, and 10/5 hours of sitting per day. Overall, the study concluded that with each additional 1,865 steps, the risk of developing dementia or other cognitive impairment was reduced by 33%, and for those 65 years and older, each additional 31 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity were associated with a 21% lesser risk.

Study author Andrea LaCroix noted that there is no cure for dementia currently, so taking preventative measures early in life is one of the ways that we can lessen our chances of developing cognitive impairment.

While getting more physical activity does help our mental health, it offers plenty of other health benefits too! Read more about the importance and health benefits of exercise in the following Fill Your Plate articles!

The Weekend Exercise Warrior: It’s Better than Nothing – Fill Your Plate Blog

Cardio: The Best Exercise – Fill Your Plate Blog

Fun Ways to Exercise This Summer (For All Ages!) – Fill Your Plate Blog