Study links walking to better cognitive skills

A long-term study published in Scientific Reports on 11 October 2026 suggests that daily walking may improve cognitive functions such as attention, self-control, and decision-making.

Researchers used Fitbit data for analysis

Researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine, including Olaoluwa Okusaga, Yi-Sian Lin, and Elizabeth Atkinson, analyzed data from 3,093 adults wearing Fitbit devices. The participants' step counts were recorded over 14 years, and their cognitive abilities were later assessed using four tests measuring sustained attention, impulsivity control, facial emotion recognition, and the ability to filter out irrelevant information.

Three walking groups compared

The study identified three groups based on average daily steps: approximately 5,108, 8,875, and 14,161 steps. The two more active groups outperformed the sedentary group in three of the four tests. Those who walked more exhibited greater attention stability, better impulse control, and improved ability to distinguish between essential and non-essential information.

Facial emotion recognition unchanged

However, facial emotion recognition did not vary with step count. The findings were based on objective measurements rather than self-reported data, distinguishing this study from previous research.