Maintaining Brain Health: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle Could Offer Protection
Let's dive into the MedWalk Study on cognitive health
Here's the scoop on a nifty research project that's currently unfolding. Researchers are investigating if following the MedWalk lifestyle (a Mediterranean diet combined with regular walking) can lower the risk of cognitive decline and various dementias, including Alzheimer's.
You might be wondering, "Why the MedWalk, bro?" Well, previous research suggests that both a Mediterranean diet and regular walking can positively impact brain health. This study aims to shed some light on their combined effect.
The study, conducted by a gang of scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, is still in the thick of things. You know, thanks to good old COVID-19 stirring up trouble. Nevertheless, the research team has been keeping it real by sharing details about their processes and ongoing analysis in the esteemed Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Originally, they designed this baby to assess cognition over a two-year period. But you know how it goes – timing and money sometimes play dirty. Due to the financial impact of the pandemic and giving the situation a once-over, they've had to shorten the follow-up period to a single year. Despite the curveballs, the researchers remain optimistic that the results will still pack a punch.
So, what's the gang after? Well, their primary focus is on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants. They're also interested in observing how this intervention affects a handful of other areas, such as mood, quality of life, and health costs. Plus, they're keen on cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness.
The participants are cool, laid-back folks between 60 to 90 years of age living in South Australia and Victoria. The team even expanded recruitment to include participants from the wider community due to COVID-19 restrictions.
To keep things ticking along nicely, they're focusing on biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, like glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
Now, there are two groups in this study—the MedWalk intervention group and a control group maintaining their ordinary diet and activity level. The MedWalkers benefit from a combo of dietary modification, supervised walks, and behavioral change techniques. Participants get solid support in the first six months, with additional help still available for the following six months.
To help participants embrace the Mediterranean vibe, researchers provide extra-virgin olive oil (a key ingredient of the diet) and other goodies. Plus, they conduct an initial assessment of aerobic fitness and drag the MedWalkers to group walks for the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the rest of the test year.
Now, what's a little expert chatter on the MedWalk intervention? Enter Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist who specializes in Mediterranean diets. He told Medical News Today that studies suggest that following a Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of dementia. Other studies found links between the Mediterranean diet and reduced rates of Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia.
However, Middelmann reminded us to remember that there are many factors involved in dementia risk, so maintaining a healthy diet is just one part of the overall puzzle.
So, what makes the Mediterranean diet so special? Well, it's rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and is low in processed grains and sugars. These components can combat oxidative stress and inflammation, improve cognitive function, and keep the gut microbiome in check. Sharing meals with loved ones and regular exercise are also key elements of the Mediterranean lifestyle that have been linked to better brain health.
As for walking, the science shows that regular strolls can lower the risk of dementia, improve brain blood flow, boost cognitive impairment, and reduce feelings of stress while boosting overall well-being.
The study's data-collection period will wrap up by the end of 2023. Stay tuned for more info on this fascinating investigation!
- The MedWalk Study, which investigates the combined effects of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on cognitive health, is currently being conducted by a team of scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
- Conducted in South Australia and Victoria, the study initially aimed to assess cognition over a two-year period but has been shortened to a single year due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The study's primary focus is on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants, as well as observing how this intervention affects mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
- Researchers are focusing on biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
- The MedWalk Study has two groups: the intervention group, which follows a Mediterranean diet, participates in supervised walks, and receives behavioral change techniques; and a control group that maintains its ordinary diet and activity level.
- Studies suggest that following a Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's. This diet is rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and low in processed grains and sugars, helping combat oxidative stress and inflammation, improve cognitive function, and keep the gut microbiome in check.
- Regular walking, as supported by science, can lower the risk of dementia, improve brain blood flow, boost cognitive impairment, reduce feelings of stress, and boost overall well-being.
- Results from the MedWalk Study are expected by the end of 2023, and more information about this intriguing investigation will be shared as it becomes available.
