Maintaining Brain Health: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Regular Exercise May Offer Protection
A captivating study is currently underway to evaluate the combined impact of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline. Dubbed the "MedWalk intervention," this study aims to determine if following both these practices can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and various types of dementia, including Alzheimer's.
Historically, both the Mediterranean diet and regular physical activity like walking have demonstrated positive correlations with brain health, but this study seeks to uncover the combined benefits of the MedWalk intervention. The research is being carried out by an international team of scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and will continue despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
More specifically, the researchers are focusing on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants. Furthermore, they are interested in observing the intervention's effects on various aspects of health, including mood, quality of life, and health costs, as well as cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness.
Participants in the study are 60-90-year-old individuals residing in South Australia and Victoria, with some recruited from independent living retirement communities, and others from the wider community due to the impact of the pandemic. The study pays special attention to indicators of cognitive decline such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
The research groups participants into two categories: the intervention group and a control group maintaining their regular diet and activity levels. The MedWalk intervention includes dietary modifications combined with a supervised walking regimen, reinforced by psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Participants receive support for the initial six months, with additional assistance available for the subsequent six months to aid in long-term adherence to the program.
A Mediterranean diet might contribute to brain health in several ways. According to certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, the diet is rich in antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and inflammation, which are thought to be significant contributors to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), essential for brain health. The Mediterranean diet is high in fiber that can help maintain a balanced gut microbiome.
Regular walking, on the other hand, has been linked to slower cognitive decline, with studies showing a dose-dependent relationship between the number of steps taken and a reduced risk of dementia. The current study is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
- The MedWalk intervention, a combination of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking, is currently under study to investigate its impact on dementia and cognitive decline in older adults.
- The multidisciplinary research is focusing on the 12-month change in visual memory and learning applicable to participants, while monitoring diverse health aspects, such as mood, quality of life, and health costs, as well as cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness.
- The study recruits South Australian and Victorian individuals aged 60-90, including some from independent living retirement communities and others from the wider community, due to pandemic restrictions.
- The MedWalk intervention categories consist of an intervention group following dietary modifications and a supervised walking regimen, and a control group maintaining their usual diet and activity levels.
- The potential benefits of the Mediterranean diet for brain health may stem from its abundance in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber, which combat oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and support a balanced gut microbiome.
- Regular walking has been associated with slower cognitive decline, and this study aims to verify its role in decreasing the risk of dementia, especially Alzheimer's, through a dose-dependent relationship with the number of steps taken.
