A Fresh Take on Mediterranean Diet and Walking for Cognitive Health
Maintaining Brain Health: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle as Potential Protective Measures
Hey there! Let's dive into an exciting study that's all about keeping your brain sharp as a tack. This study, known as the "MedWalk intervention," is exploring the combined effects of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia—yep, that includes Alzheimer's disease too!
Brain-Boosting Duo
The researchers behind this study are convinced that a perfect yet powerful combination is at play here. Both the Mediterranean diet and walking have been linked to brain health, so they're on a mission to prove that these two powerhouses are even better together!
Study Tidbits
This study—lead by researchers from down under, including Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom—aims to find out the impact of the MedWalk (short for Mediterranean diet and walking) intervention on your memory, learning, mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness. You'll find participants aged 60 to 90 who live in South Australia and Victoria, with some recruited from retirement communities and others from the larger community.
Focus on Visual Memory and Learning
The primary interest of the study's authors is the change in visual memory and learning for participants after a year. As they've had to shorten the study's follow-up period due to the pandemic, they're currently in the process of recruiting a wider sample.
What is a Mediterranean Diet?
Just in case you haven't heard about it, a Mediterranean diet is loaded with fruits, veggies, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats— like olive oil. It's been linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline, and the MedWalk intervention is trying to verify this benefit!
In this study, participants will get support for six months, and extra help will be available for the next six months to help them stay on track. The researchers even provide extra-virgin olive oil and other beneficial foods to participants to help them understand the diet. After an initial fitness assessment, participants will participate in group walking sessions for six months, followed by monthly sessions for the rest of the test period.
Let's Put It Together: A MedWalk for Cognitive Success
Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, an expert in Mediterranean diets, spoke to Medical News Today and explained why the Mediterranean diet may contribute to brain health:
- It's rich in antioxidants, which combat oxidative stress and inflammation that can lead to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
- The diet contains essential omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), vital for brain health.
- A Mediterranean diet is high in fiber to keep the gut microbiome in balance, reduce insulin resistance and inflammation, and discourage the consumption of ultra-processed foods linked to dementia.
- It encourages exercises like walking, family meals, and socialization, all linked to brain health.
And let's not forget about walking! Did you know that taking 10,000 steps each day can lower the risk of dementia by 50%? Walking may boost brain blood flow, improve cognitive function, reduce stress, and even provide social and natural benefits.
Stay tuned for the study results—the data-collection period will be completed by the end of 2023. We're all excited to see if the MedWalk intervention will keep our brains sharp and memories strong!
- While the MedWalk intervention is focused on memory, learning, quality of life, and cardiovascular health, the researchers are particularly interested in the impact on visual memory and learning.
- Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist, explains that the Mediterranean diet rich in antioxidants, essential omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and encouragement of exercises like walking, family meals, and socialization, could contribute to brain health.
- When it comes to keeping your brain healthy, the study suggests that a combination of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking could potentially lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
- The naive sample for this study consists of individuals aged 60 to 90 living in South Australia and Victoria, with some participants recruited from retirement communities and others from the larger community.
- In terms of maintaining overall health and wellness, fitness, exercise, and mental health, the MedWalk intervention offers support for six months, supplementing participants with extra-virgin olive oil and beneficial foods, followed by periodical group walking sessions.
- As the scientific community continues to gain insights into the connection between diet, exercise, and mental health, the study on the MedWalk intervention provides a fresh perspective on the potential benefits of adopting a Mediterranean diet combined with regular walking for a healthier brain.
