Walking makes your brain work better and boosts well-being, research finds

Researchers found the foot’s impact on the ground during walking sends pressure waves through the arteries that significantly increase the supply of blood to the brain. Greater impact was shown through running, but the study saw a significant enough increase of blood flow for a better-working brain and boost to overall well-being simply by walking.

 

“New data now strongly suggest that brain blood flow is very dynamic and depends directly on aortic pressures (your heart rate) that interact with pressure pulses from foot impacts,” the researchers said.

It was already known that running caused impact-related waves of blood to flow through the arteries that then sync up with the heart rate to regulate the amount of blood that circulates through the brain. 

By using ultrasound machines, the scientists at New Mexico Highlands University were able to see the same — if on a smaller scale — positive effects of blood flowing to the brain from walking.