The MedWalk Revolution: A Comprehensive Approach to Cognitive Health and Dementia Prevention
Cultural intelligence: Embracing Mediterranean diet and active living for potential cognitive protection
Researchers are stirring things up with the "MedWalk" intervention, a revolutionary lifestyle change that could potentially reduce cognitive decline and dementia risks. "MedWalk" is simply a blend of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking.
Previous research shows that both lifestyle factors have been linked to improved brain health on their own, but this study aims to demonstrate their supercharged benefits when combined.
MedWalk Research Accelerates Amidst Pandemic Disruptions
The research, carried out by an international team from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, is still in process, though it has faced a slight hiccup due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the setbacks, the authors have gone public with their processes and ongoing analyses in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Originally designed for a two-year span, the study has adapted to the pandemic circumstances, now focusing on a single-year follow-up instead. The modified research continues, recruiting a more extensive participant sample from independent living retirement communities, as well as the wider community.
Visual Memory: The Crux of the Study
The researchers' main objective lies in observing the intervention's impact on visual memory and learning, key factors in cognitive processes. They are also keeping a close eye on the intervention's effects on other areas, such as mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and more.
Unpacking the MedWalk Intervention
Participants aged 60 to 90 years engage in a 12-month MedWalk intervention. The strategy includes dietary modifications and a supervised walking regimen, enhanced by psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Participants receive intensive support during the first 6 months and continue to benefit from assistance for the next 6 months to aid their adherence to the plan.
The researchers provide educational materials to help participants understand the principles of the Mediterranean diet and its contrast to a typical Australian diet. Extra-virgin olive oil, a dietary staple in the Mediterranean diet, is made readily available to participants for free. After assessing each participant's baseline aerobic fitness, group walking sessions take place for the first 6 months, followed by monthly sessions for the remaining duration of the study.
The Mediterranean Diet: More Than Just a Mouthwatering Meal
Certified nutritionist, Conner Middelmann, emphasized that studies have suggested that adopting a Mediterranean diet is associated with a reduced risk of dementia cases. Additionally, other studies from 2020 and 2023 have highlighted the diet's association with lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.
Middelmann warned that while these studies suggest a link, "Many factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and overall health, can influence dementia risk." She added, "Maintaining a healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet is just one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention."
Walking the Path to a Sharper Brain
Regular walking has also been associated with a slower cognitive decline. A study revealed a dose-dependent relationship between walkometer-measured daily steps taken and the risk of dementia. Fascinatingly, it showed that taking 10,000 steps per day lowered the dementia risk by half! Another study found a connection between slower walk speeds and a higher risk of dementia, while a 2017 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that aerobic exercise enhances cognitive impairment.
Brain health coach, Ryan Glatt, explained that walking may benefit cognitive function in various ways. "Walking increases brain blood flow and improves levels of brain activity, potentially reducing stress and enhancing feelings of well-being."
Walking may offer additional benefits, such as social interaction and exposure to nature - both of which have been linked to cognitive benefits, according to Glatt.
Brain Power: The 2023 Edition
Data collection for the MedWalk study is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The findings from this groundbreaking research could reshape our understanding of cognitive health and pave the way for preventive measures against dementia.
- The international team working on the MedWalk study, amidst pandemic disruptions, has published their processes and ongoing analyses in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
- Participants in the MedWalk intervention, aged 60 to 90 years, engage in a 12-month program that incorporates dietary modifications, a supervised walking regimen, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques.
- The MedWalk study's primary objective is to observe the intervention's impact on visual memory and learning, key factors in cognitive processes, as well as its effects on mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and more.
- Certified nutritionist, Conner Middelmann, underscored that studies have suggested that adopting a Mediterranean diet could potentially reduce dementia cases, with 2020 and 2023 studies highlighting the diet's association with lower rates of Alzheimer's disease.
- Regular walking has been linked to a slower cognitive decline, as a study revealed a dose-dependent relationship between walkometer-measured daily steps taken and the risk of dementia.
- Brain health coach, Ryan Glatt, explained that walking benefits cognitive function by increasing brain blood flow, improving levels of brain activity, potentially reducing stress, and enhancing feelings of well-being.
