How many steps should you be taking every day? A new peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Network Open suggests 7,000 steps a day could be a solid benchmark for middle-aged adults, a break from the often-regurgitated number of 10,000. The study, which began tracking participants in 2005, revealed a 50% to 70% lower risk of premature, all-cause mortality for those who crossed that 7,000-steps-a-day threshold, compared with those who logged fewer than 7,000. The study tracked 2,110 people ages 38 to 50 and followed them for an average of nearly 11 years. While the 7,000-step milestone stood out in the study, experts say that simply improving on your current step count can make a difference.