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12,000-Step Days Linked to Better Teen Mental Health

By Drooid · Oct 5, 2026, 5:39 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. researchers tracked over 5,500 adolescents and found that 12,000-step days reduced mental-health symptoms.
The study compared teens taking more than 12,000 steps daily with those taking fewer than 5,000 steps.
Higher step counts correlated with greater thickness in two brain regions linked to motor and cognitive functions.
Dr. Claudine Higdon, child-adolescent psychiatrist, said walking may boost dopamine and serotonin, lower cortisol and inflammation, easing anxiety and depression.

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Story summary

U.S. researchers tracked over 5,500 adolescents and found that 12,000-step days reduced mental-health symptoms.
The study compared teens taking more than 12,000 steps daily with those taking fewer than 5,000 steps.
Higher step counts correlated with greater thickness in two brain regions linked to motor and cognitive functions.
Dr. Claudine Higdon, child-adolescent psychiatrist, said walking may boost dopamine and serotonin, lower cortisol and inflammation, easing anxiety and depression.