Stride Matters: How Your Walking Pace Signals Heart and Brain Health

Walking speed is a powerful, low-cost health marker. A simple five-metre walk test can indicate mortality risk, cardiovascular health and cognitive decline, with faster paces linked to better heart, brain and overall longevity. If you walk slower than about 1 m/s, health risks rise; improving leg strength, balance and cardiovascular fitness through regular, varied training can increase your pace and predict better well-being.