Maintaining cognitive health: Adopting the Mediterranean diet and an active lifestyle could potentially offer protection.
A Mind-Boosting Study Combines Mediterranean Diet and Walking
Get your sneakers on and grab a fork because scientists are diving deep into the impact of a unique combo: a "MedWalk" lifestyle! This nickname stands for a Mediterranean diet paired with regular walking. Let's see if this Grok-worthy duo helps fight dementia and cognitive decline.
Previously, both the Mediterranean diet and walking have been linked to maintaining brain health. This new study aims to confirm the advantage of pairing these healthful habits under one "MedWalk" intervention.
The international research team, hailing from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, is conducting this ongoing study. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a temporary interruption, but the team has kept their head in the game by sharing their processes and analysis in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Originally designed to span two years, the study has adjusted to a one-year follow-up period due to the pandemic's effects on timing and finances. Nevertheless, the researchers feel this change will yield robust findings.
The scientists are primarily interested in observing a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants. Furthermore, they'll study how this lifestyle intervention affects mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and more.
Participants are 60 to 90-year-old individuals residing in South Australia and Victoria, Australia. They've recruited participants from independent living retirement communities, as well as the broader community due to the pandemic's impact.
The study pays close attention to biomarkers linked to cognitive decline, including glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
Participants were divided into the MedWalk intervention group or a control group with typical eating and activity habits. The MedWalk intervention blends dietary modification with a supervised walking regimen, supported by psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Participants receive six months of intensive assistance before additional help is available for the next six months to help participants stick to the routine.
Researchers provide educational information on the differences between a Mediterranean diet and a typical Australian diet to help participants grasp the concept. Resourceful gifts include extra-virgin olive oil, key to a Mediterranean diet, and other essential foods.
After assessing participants' baseline aerobic fitness, they join group walking sessions during the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the remaining test year.
A Certified Nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, Conner Middelmann, not involved in the study, informed Medical News Today that studies have shown a lower risk of dementia among those following a Mediterranean diet. However, Middelmann reminded readers that many factors contribute to the development of dementia, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health.
Middelmann elaborated that the Mediterranean diet might strengthen brain health through antioxidants fighting oxidative stress and inflammation, omega-3 fatty acids essential for brain health, maintaining a balanced gut microbiome, reducing risk of insulin resistance and inflammation, and discouraging ultra-processed foods, which have been linked to dementia.
Moreover, sharing meals with friends and family and regular exercise are other aspects of the Mediterranean diet that have been associated with improved brain health.
On the other hand, walking regularly is associated with slower cognitive decline. A study found a dose-dependent relationship between the number of steps taken daily and reduced dementia risk. In fact, taking 10,000 steps daily decreased the chance of dementia by 50%.
Walking may boost brain health through various mechanisms, such as increased blood flow, enhanced brain activity, reduced stress, and improved feelings of well-being.
The current study's data collection period will wrap up by the end of 2023. So, keep an eye on the unfolding results of this MedWalk intervention!
- The unique combination of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking, known as a "MedWalk" lifestyle, is being investigated by scientists for its potential in fighting dementia and cognitive decline.
- The ongoing study, being conducted by an international research team, focuses on the effects of this lifestyle intervention on brain health, cognitive function, visual memory, learning, mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and more.
- Naive participants aged 60 to 90 years old, residing in South Australia and Victoria, Australia, have been recruited for the study, with some coming from independent living retirement communities and others from the broader community due to the pandemic's impact.
- The MedWalk intervention combines dietary modification, supervised walking, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques, with participants receiving six months of intensive assistance before additional help is available.
- This lifestyle intervention may help combat dementia and cognitive decline through various mechanisms, such as reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, improved glucose regulation, balanced gut microbiome, and reduced risk of insulin resistance and inflammation.
- Additionally, researchers believe that regular walking might slow cognitive decline through increased blood flow, enhanced brain activity, reduced stress, and improved feelings of well-being, all of which contribute to better mental health, fitness, and overall health and wellness.
