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Maintaining Brain Health: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle Might Offer Protection

Healthy Brain: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle Offers Potential Protection

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Adopting an active way of life and consuming a nutritious diet could potentially safeguard brain...
Adopting an active way of life and consuming a nutritious diet could potentially safeguard brain health and decrease the likelihood of dementia. Image credit attributed to Kobus Louw/Getty Images.

Maintaining Brain Health: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle Might Offer Protection

A fascinating study dubbed "MedWalk" is probing the potential of combining a Mediterranean diet and regular walking to stave off cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. MedWalk signifies the marriage of a Mediterranean diet and walking.

Previously, both a Mediterranean diet and regular exercise have shown links to brain health, and this study seeks to confirm the combined benefits of adopting the MedWalk intervention. The researchers behind the study hail from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic halting progress, the authors of the study shared their processes and ongoing analysis in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

The study, initially designed to assess cognition over a 2-year period, has since been shortened to a single year due to the pandemic's timing and financial impact. Despite the alterations, the researchers believe the modified version will yield sufficiently robust findings.

The primary focus of the researchers is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants. Moreover, they are keen to observe the intervention's impact on several areas, including mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.

The participants, aged 60 to 90, reside in South Australia and Victoria, with some recruited from independent living retirement communities. Due to pandemic-induced circumstances, additional participants were sourced from a wider community. The study considers biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.

As for the MedWalk intervention's mechanics, participants were divided into two groups: one following the MedWalk intervention and another maintaining their usual diet and activity level. The intervention combines dietary modification, supervised walking, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques, with participants receiving ongoing support to ensure adherence.

A certified nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, Conner Middelmann, shared insights on the link between the Mediterranean diet and dementia risk reduction based on past studies. While a Mediterranean diet may contribute to brain health in various ways, it's essential to remember that numerous factors can impact dementia risk, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health.

As for walking's role, research points to regular exercise as a strider toward slower cognitive decline. A study found a dose-dependent relationship between the number of steps taken and reduced dementia risk, with taking 10,000 steps a day lowering the risk by 50%. Other studies support walking's potential to boost brain health through improved blood flow, increased brain activity, decreased stress levels, and enhanced well-being.

Brain health coach Ryan Glatt further explained that walking may incorporate social elements and exposure to nature, both of which have been associated with additional brain benefits. The study's data-collection period is set to end by the end of 2023.

  1. This MedWalk study investigates the potential benefits of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking in preventing cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
  2. The marriage of a Mediterranean diet and walking forms the basis of the MedWalk intervention, which seeks to confirm the combined benefits in warding off dementia.
  3. The researchers responsible for the study hail from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and they share their findings in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
  4. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic affecting progress, the study has been adapted to a year-long period instead of the initially planned 2 years due to the pandemic's timing and financial impact.
  5. The primary focus of the researchers is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants, as well as assessing the intervention's impact on mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
  6. Participants, aged 60 to 90, reside in South Australia and Victoria, with some recruited from independent living retirement communities, and additional participants sourced from a wider community due to pandemic circumstances.
  7. The study considers various biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, including glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
  8. The MedWalk intervention involves dietary modification, supervised walking, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques, with participants receiving ongoing support to ensure adherence.
  9. Past studies suggest a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of dementia, and regular exercise, like walking, may contribute to slower cognitive decline, with taking 10,000 steps a day potentially lowering the dementia risk by 50%. Moreover, walking's social and nature elements may further boost brain health benefits. The study's data-collection period ends by the end of 2023.

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