Maintaining Brain Health: Adhering to Mediterranean Diet and Regular Physical Activity Could Supply Protection
Revamped Article:
Here's a lowdown on the ongoing MedWalk intervention study, a fascinating investigation exploring the combo impact of the Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline.
Researchers are rolling up their sleeves to unearth whether following the "MedWalk" lifestyle, a blend of the Mediterranean diet and walking, could be a game-changer for brain health, potentially reducing the risks of cognitive decline and dementias like Alzheimer's.
Previously, both the Mediterranean diet and walking have been linked to brain health benefits. This study aims to build on that research, delving into the combined benefits of the MedWalk lifestyle. The groundbreaking study is being conducted by researchers hailing from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, originally designed for a two-year follow-up period.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, necessitated some adjustments. The study's timeline, now set to wrap up by 2023, has been revised to just a year, with data analyses ongoing, and the team has expanded its participant pool. The researchers' primary focus is on observing the impact of the MedWalk lifestyle on visual memory and learning over a 12-month period.
Besides the primary interest outlined above, the study also explores the intervention's effects on mood, quality of life, and health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness among other aspects.
The participants enrolled are aged between 60 and 90, primarily sourced from independent living retirement communities in South Australia and Victoria. Due to the pandemic, recruitment efforts expanded to the wider community. Special attention is paid to biomarkers known to contribute to cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups – the intervention group, following the MedWalk lifestyle, or the control group maintaining their usual diet and activity levels. The intervention group receives support and instruction in adopting a Mediterranean diet, formed around extra-virgin olive oil, along with a supervised walking regimen supplemented by psychosocial behavioral change techniques.
A certified nutritionist, Conner Middelmann, weighed in on the potential benefits of this intersection between the Mediterranean diet and walking. While past studies associating the Mediterranean diet with a reduced risk of dementia have turned up, Middelmann reminds us that many factors intertwine, influencing dementia risk. A Mediterranean diet's potential contributions to cognitive health might stem from:
- antioxidants combat oxidative stress and inflammation, which are thought to drive cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases
- omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), crucial for brain health, and linked with improved cognitive function and lower rates of cognitive decline
- the diet's fiber content, which maintains gut microbiome balance
- reduced risk of insulin resistance and inflammation due to low processed grains and sugars
- less consumption of ultra-processed foods, known to be associated with dementia
Moreover, sharing meals with loved ones and regular exercise, common elements in the Mediterranean diet, have also been connected with brain health.
The benefits of walking, including slower cognitive decline, are also well-documented. A study found a dose-dependent relationship between the number of steps taken and the reduced risk of dementia. Taking 10,000 steps a day could lower the risk of dementia by half. Other studies have linked walking speed with dementia, and concluded that aerobic exercise like walking boosts cognitive impairment.
Brain health advocate Ryan Glatt, not involved in the study, explained that walking might benefit brain health in various ways, such as:
- increased brain blood flow, depending on the intensity, duration, and frequency of walking
- improved brain activity levels
- reduced feelings of stress and improved feelings of well-being
- incorporating social elements and exposure to nature, which could contribute to additional brain benefits
So, stay tuned for the findings of the MedWalk study as it nears completion, shedding light on the combined effects of the Mediterranean diet and walking on cognitive health and dementia risks. Keep in mind, however, that lifestyle choices encompass several variables, and a holistic approach incorporating various strategies is crucial for maintaining optimal brain health.
- The MedWalk intervention study, taking place in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, is investigating if the MedWalk lifestyle, a blend of the Mediterranean diet and walking, could reduce risks of cognitive decline and dementias like Alzheimer's.
- Researchers are focusing on observing the impact of the MedWalk lifestyle on visual memory and learning over a 12-month period, as well as its impact on mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and biomarkers linked to cognitive decline.
- Participants aged between 60 and 90 are randomly assigned to one of two groups – the intervention group, following the MedWalk lifestyle, or the control group maintaining their usual diet and activity levels.
- The Mediterranean diet's potential contributions to cognitive health might stem from antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and inflammation, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, reduced risk of insulin resistance and inflammation, and less consumption of ultra-processed foods.
- Walking benefits brain health due to increased brain blood flow, improved brain activity levels, reduced stress levels, improved feelings of well-being, and incorporating social elements and exposure to nature.
- The MedWalk study, nearing completion in 2023, aims to shed light on the combined effects of the Mediterranean diet and walking on cognitive health and dementia risks.
- A holistic approach, incorporating various strategies such as a Mediterranean diet, regular walking, mental health, nutrition, fitness and exercise, and healthy diets, is crucial for maintaining optimal brain health.
- Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist, has discussed the potential benefits of the intersection between the Mediterranean diet and walking, emphasizing that lifestyle choices encompass several variables.
- Ryan Glatt, a brain health advocate, explained that the findings of the MedWalk study will be vital for understanding the combined effects of the Mediterranean diet and walking on cognitive health and dementia risks.
