[Hamanhacheon Movement Headquarters Launch] "Walking Increases Brain Blood Flow and Removes Dementia-Causing Proteins"

Effects of Walking According to Experts

Irisin Hormone Secreted
Brain Protective Substances Proven to Be Released

Getting Off One Station Early or Late
Also Trains Spatial Perception

Conversely, Not Walking
Can Increase Visceral Fat and Blood Sugar

Asiakeconomy conducted the ‘Hamanhacheon’ campaign and met numerous experts who unanimously agreed that walking exercises play a positive role not only in physical health but also in brain health. As the effects of walking have become known through the campaign, various walking methods in daily life have spread among citizens, and various institutions and organizations are actively promoting national health improvement through walking.

On the 15th, at the Hanok Village in Jung-gu, Seoul, key guests including Dr. Oh Han-jin, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, and Woo Byung-hyun, CEO of Asia Economy (from left), performed a first step ceremony symbolizing the beginning after the 'Hamanhacheon National Movement Headquarters Launch Ceremony.' Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Yang Dong-won, chairman of the Korean Dementia Association and a leading authority in the field of dementia as well as a professor of neurology at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, explained the effects of walking exercise: “Research shows that irisin hormone secreted from muscles during exercise travels to the brain, enhancing brain function and removing amyloid beta (Aβ) protein that causes Alzheimer’s dementia.” He added, “Blood flow to the brain increases, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a brain-protective substance, is secreted, preventing brain atrophy and even causing the brain to thicken again.” He emphasized that brain health can be maintained through exercise. Regarding this, he explained, “In the past, it was simply thought that improved blood flow and weight loss naturally reduced age-related diseases, but now it has been proven that exercise supplies good substances that protect the brain.”

Han Seol-hee, a prominent dementia specialist and professor of neurology at Konkuk University Hospital, also emphasized, “Walking briskly enough to get slightly out of breath increases cerebral blood flow and significantly increases BDNF secretion, which helps maintain memory center cells and promotes the growth of new nerve cells.” Notably, Professor Han personally practices this method in daily life. She recommends getting off one station before or after as a daily exercise. She said, “Besides increasing the number of steps, it trains spatial perception. Instead of always taking the same route, approaching from different directions helps improve spatial perception.” She also shared research results showing that people who worked as taxi drivers for a long time had larger memory centers in their brains.

Conversely, there are studies showing that health deteriorates when walking is reduced. Bente Klarlund Pedersen, a professor at Copenhagen University’s Rigshospitalet and known as Denmark’s ‘walking evangelist,’ explained that when young and healthy people who usually walked an average of 10,000 steps a day were deliberately made sedentary and limited to about 1,500 steps per day, their physical condition rapidly worsened within two weeks. Overall fitness levels declined, post-meal blood sugar levels rose, showing prediabetic symptoms. Visceral fat levels increased, and even cognitive abilities deteriorated. Professor Pedersen emphasized, “If you start moving less, it immediately affects your physical and mental health. Healthy people should basically walk as much as possible.”

At the 'Wrist Doctor 9988 Walking Challenge' health event held last October at Seoul Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, participants including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon are performing a performance. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

As the effects of walking have become known, various walking methods are being shared, and local governments and various organizations are actively promoting national health improvement through walking. Choi Wan-jung, a 38-year veteran actress and president of the Korean Stair Climbing Walking Association as well as director of Dapsimni Film Media Art Center, personally experienced improvements in body and mind through consistent stair climbing in daily life. Over five to six months of steady stair climbing, she lost 10 kg, overcame the depression she had fallen into as she considered herself an ‘unmanaged actress,’ and experienced positive changes.

Park Dong-chang, chairman of the Barefoot Walking National Movement Headquarters, recommends ‘barefoot walking.’ He explains that walking barefoot maximizes acupressure and grounding effects compared to walking with shoes, which is better for the body. He explained, “The muscles surrounding the musculoskeletal system become stiff due to shoes, causing pain, and barefoot walking relieves this through compression and relaxation, providing an acupressure effect.” Nordic walking, which uses two poles (sticks) to engage both upper and lower body muscles simultaneously, is considered a good exercise method for young people as a diet exercise and for the elderly as it reduces the physical burden while walking.

Seoul City is implementing the Seoul-type healthcare ‘Wrist Doctor 9988’ project, a non-face-to-face citizen health management program. Participating citizens are provided with smart bands free of charge, and by completing missions such as ‘walking more than 8,000 steps a day’ to achieve health goals, they can earn up to 100,000 points. The second phase of the project is currently underway, and word of mouth has rapidly filled the target of 180,000 participants.

Efforts to introduce various walking routes are also ongoing. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently operated the ‘2023 Walking Travel Week’ centered on the Korea Dulle-gil in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization. The Korea Dulle-gil is a long-distance walking travel route of about 4,544 km connecting the edges of the Korean Peninsula, including the east, west, and south coasts and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It consists of the Haeparang Trail on the East Coast, the Nampalang Trail on the South Coast, the Seohaerang Trail on the West Coast, and the DMZ Peace Trail.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.