“Super Movers” are a group of people age 80 years and older who walk at an accelerated speed. This speed is quantitated by comparing it to the average speed people of the same age walk. Super Movers walking speed is 1.5 standard deviations above that average. In other words, these seniors are in good enough health and shape to walk much faster and more vigorously than other people their age.
This article goes along with the many previous articles I have written praising the benefits of regular exercise. Now, a study published in the journal, Neurology, has documented benefits walking and exercising have on cognitive decline. Almost 4000 patients 80 years or older were followed for five years. Of these 4K people, 358 met the criteria for super mover status.
Super movers were 51% less likely to develop cognitive impairment over the 5-year observation period compared to those who were not super movers. They also had a significantly slower decline in mental processing speed, executive function, and global cognition. They were also less likely to have chronic medical disorders, had a younger biological age, and had a later mean age at death (95 yrs vs. 93 yrs). Another benefit was a lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.
All of this information is shared because it proves, once again, that exercise and in particular, brisk walking, has definite positive effects on not only our physical well-being, but our cognitive functioning, as well. The benefits of regular exercise are well-proven and undeniable. It is such a simple concept, but because many of us have physical limitations, it is largely ignored by the elderly. Encouraging seniors to get moving is strongly advised and should become routine in our daily activities—if you have the physical capability.
References: Borreli L, “Super Movers” May Have Slower Cognitive Decline. medscape.com 2026 July 10.
Jayakody O, et al. Cognitive Aging and Brain Health: A Comparison of Super Movers vs. Non-Super Movers. Neurology 2026 July 14;107(1):e214776.
