People who walk faster than the rest turn out to be more intelligent

Does it always annoy you endlessly when someone in front of you walks just a bit too slowly? Or when you go out with a friend and she walks like a snail?

You're not the only one. And walking faster than the rest has quite a few health benefits, according to scientific research.

Emotional
A recent study looked at the movement patterns of 900 residents of New Zealand. These residents were followed from the age of three to forty-five. The research revealed that the speed at which one walks says a lot about a person's intelligence. Fast walkers are generally considered to be smarter than slow walkers. They simply scored higher on IQ tests than people who don't exactly keep up the pace. Also, people who walk slower are less emotional stable: they are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety disorders, or other mental health issues. This is also evident from many more studies. For fourteen years, 50,000 people were followed and studied, and it also showed that fast walkers generally live longer.

And there's more to say. The risk of death from cardiovascular diseases is 21 percent lower in people with a high walking pace than in slow walkers. And by fast walking, we mean walking at about five kilometers per hour. Just take a walk in your neighborhood for an hour and then check your apps to see how many kilometers you've walked. Is it less than five? Then next time, you need to walk just a bit faster.

Aging
How is that possible? It has everything to do with your brain and aging. The researchers indicated that people who walk slower generally age faster. The total brain volume decreases more rapidly in this group of people, and the risk of developing dementia increases. That's not bad so. You might as well keep walking, research shows. In any case, walking is good for everyone: your brain benefits from it in the long term.

What you should aim for? Walk at least ten kilometers weekly. This keeps not only your body fit but also your mind. ‘The most important thing is that people incorporate walking into their daily lives. The walking pace comes in second place,’ says Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis. So: go walk. Leave the bike and car behind. You'll be grateful to us in about twenty years.

Source: Sydney