A person’s biological age can differ significantly from their chronological age due to various factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and health conditions. Researchers at Duke University have found that a person’s walking speed can provide insights into their biological age. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed health data from 900 45-year-old men and women who were part of a long-term study in New Zealand. The participants were asked to walk at their normal pace on a treadmill while solving a cognitive task and then to demonstrate their maximum walking speed without running. The researchers also analyzed the participants’ biological age using 19 biomarkers, including heart function, lung capacity, dental health, and blood tests. The study found that slower walking speed was associated with a poorer physical condition and a higher biological age. The participants with the slowest walking speed aged five years faster than those with the fastest walking speed over the last 20 years. The study also found that walking speed was linked to brain aging and cognitive performance. Participants with slower walking speed had smaller brain volumes and more damage in the white matter, which are associated with lower cognitive abilities and intelligence. The study suggests that walking speed could be a useful indicator to prevent age-related diseases by identifying people who are aging faster and intervening early to reduce the accelerated aging process.
The findings of the study are significant because they suggest that walking speed can be a simple and reliable method to assess a person’s functional abilities and biological age. The study also highlights the importance of lifestyle changes to prevent accelerated aging and age-related diseases. The researchers suggest that walking speed could be used as an early warning sign to identify people who are at risk of developing age-related diseases and to encourage them to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The study also raises questions about the underlying processes that link walking speed to biological and cognitive aging. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that drive these associations and to develop interventions to slow down the aging process. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the relationship between walking speed, biological age, and cognitive performance, and highlights the potential of walking speed as a simple and effective tool to assess and prevent age-related diseases.
