Maintaining Brain Health: Adopting a Mediterranean Diet and Regular Exercise Could Provide Protection
Let's dive into the MedWalk study 🤓
Researchers are currently exploring the potential of a combo known as MedWalk to lower the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. MedWalk is a mix of the well-known Mediterranean diet and regular ol' walking. 🥔🧥
Both the Mediterranean diet and regular strolls have had links to excellence in brain health, but this study aims to prove if MedWalk can significantly improve things. 🧠🚶♀️
Based in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, the study's been impacted by COVID-19, but data on their methodology and analysis have been shared in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 🦠✍️📝
Originally planned to track cognition over two years, the study's timeline has been tweaked due to the pandemic. Now, they'll be checking in on participants for just a year, with a broader sample invited to join. ⏳🤝
The researchers are fixated on assessing a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants, but they're curious about impacts on mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness, too. 💡🧘♂️
60-90-year-olds living in South Australia and Victoria are participating in the study, which was initially recruitment only from retirement communities, but has expanded to the broader community due to COVID-19. 👴👩🦳
Struggling with cognitive decline hurts, and the MedWalk study focuses on biomarkers, like glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress. Participants are split into two groups: those following the MedWalk intervention and a control group keeping their usual diet and activity levels. 🔬🤕
The MedWalk intervention is simple: dietary adjustments combined with a supervised walking regimen, boosted by psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Think of it like a brain-boosting bootcamp. 🏋️♀️🥑
The research offers participants guidance on what the Mediterranean diet entails, including the sweet dose of free olive oil, which is essential to the diet. Participants have their aerobic fitness assessed before starting group walking sessions for the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the remainder of the test year.
- The MedWalk study, combining the Mediterranean diet and regular walking, is being investigated for its potential to reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
- Both the Mediterranean diet and walking have been linked to improved brain health, but this study aims to prove if MedWalk can provide significant benefits.
- The study, based in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, has been affected by COVID-19, with its timeline adjusted to one year and a broader sample invited to join.
- Researchers are interested not only in assessing a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants but also in examining impacts on mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
- Participants, aged 60-90, from South Australia and Victoria are partaking in the study, with recruitment initially from retirement communities but later expanding to the broader community due to COVID-19.
- Participants are divided into two groups: one following the MedWalk intervention, which includes dietary adjustments and a supervised walking regimen, and a control group maintaining their usual diet and activity levels.
