Maintaining cognitive health: Adhering to the Mediterranean diet and leading an active lifestyle could offer protective benefits.
A wild adventure into brain health is underway, as an on-going study delves into the combined impact of a Mediterranean diet and walking on dementia and cognitive decline. This groundbreaking research, dubbed the "MedWalk" study, aims to evaluate whether adopting this unique lifestyle combo can potentially decrease the risk of cognitive decline and various dementia types, such as Alzheimer's dementia.
The study, a collaboration between researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, was initially slated to run for two years, examining cognitive changes over time. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced adjustments, including reducing the follow-up period to a single year and expanding the sample size of participants.
The primary intrigue for the researchers lies in the 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants. Furthermore, the investigation will observe the intervention's effects on various aspects, such as mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and even biomarkers associated with cognitive decline.
The MedWalk intervention targets individuals aged 60 to 90, hailing from independent living retirement communities in South Australia and Victoria. Due to the pandemic, recruitment efforts expanded to include the larger community as well. Special focus is placed on crucial indicators related to cognitive decline, like glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
Participants were split into two groups: the MedWalk intervention group and a control group maintaining their regular diet and activity levels. The MedWalk intervention encompasses a Mediterranean diet, walking regimen, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques for enhancing adherence. Participants receive intensive 6-month support, followed by continued assistance for the remaining 6 months.
Guidance is provided to help participants understand the Mediterranean diet concept, with perks like free extra-virgin olive oil and other food items to make it more accessible. After assessing participants' baseline aerobic fitness, group walking sessions are conducted for the initial 6 months, followed by monthly sessions for the subsequent 6 months.
Experts in the field, like certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, support the hypothesis that following a Mediterranean diet may be associated with a lower risk of dementia. Research suggests that this diet is rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and limits processed grains and sugars, all of which contribute to better brain health.
Walking is also thought to boost brain health by increasing blood flow, benefiting brain activity, reducing stress, and presenting social and nature-related advantages. A study even revealed that taking 10,000 steps a day could potentially lower the risk of dementia by half. By merging these two powerful elements, the MedWalk study hopes to uncover even more promising outcomes in cognitive health preservation. The study's data-collection period is set to conclude at the end of 2023.
Sources:1. https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/mediterranean-diet-healthy-aging-and-dementia-risk2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32298284/3. https://www.neurology.org/content/98/22/e3120.long4. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1249/MSS.00000000000016665. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7521026/6. http://healthyseniors.sa.gov.au/medwalk7. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mediterranean-diet-and-dementia
- In 2023, the data-collection period for the "MedWalk" study, a combination of Mediterranean diet and walking, will conclude, providing insights into its potential impact on dementia and cognitive decline.
- The innovative study, investigating the effect of this unique lifestyle combination, aims to lower the risk of various dementia types, like Alzheimer's dementia and cognitive decline.
- Researchers have expanded their focus to include aspects like mood, quality of life, cardiovascular health, and biomarkers related to cognitive decline, as part of the "MedWalk" study.
- Special attention is given to indicators linked to cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress, in the "MedWalk" study.
- The "MedWalk" intervention includes a Mediterranean diet, walking regimen, and behavioral change techniques, with 6-month support for participants, followed by continued assistance.
- Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist, supports the hypothesis that a Mediterranean diet may be associated with a lower dementia risk, due to its abundance of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and limited processed grains and sugars.
- Walking as part of the "MedWalk" intervention is believed to improve brain health by increasing blood flow, benefiting brain activity, reducing stress, and offering social and nature-related advantages.
- A study revealed that taking 10,000 steps a day could potentially reduce the risk of dementia by half, a source of inspiration for the "MedWalk" study's aim to uncover more promising outcomes in cognitive health preservation.
