Mental Sharpness: Adopting Mediterranean diet and an active lifestyle could potentially serve as protective measures.
Let's Dive into the MedWalk Study: A Combo of Mediterranean Diet and Walking for Brain Health
Here's an intriguing study that's currently underway, exploring the mind-blowing combo of the Mediterranean diet and walking as a potential game-changer in dementia prevention and cognitive decline.
The researchers call this enticing combo the "MedWalk" intervention, and it's generating buzz in the scientific community.
Background Check
Previously, we've seen links between both Mediterranean diet and regular walking to brain health. Now, this study aims to confirm the benefits of the MedWalk intervention.
The study, funded by the Australian government, is the brainchild of researchers hailing from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Due to the pandemic, recruitment had to expand beyond retirement communities to the general public.
The researchers understandably pinned the primary interest on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants. They're also interested in factors like mood, quality of life, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and even the impact on health costs.
Who's Eligible?
Participants range from 60 to 90 years old, and the research team is recruiting them from South Australia and Victoria.
What's the Plan?
After a baseline fitness assessment, participants attend group walking sessions for the first 6 months, followed by monthly sessions for the next 6 months. To provide MedWalkers with the proper understanding, researchers offer guidance on diversifying their diets away from the standard Australian fare. Not only that, they hand out FREE extra-virgin olive oil and other dietary goods, key components of the Mediterranean diet.
Preliminary Insights from Experts
Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, shares her thoughts on the subject. She says several studies have indicated that adopting a Mediterranean diet can help reduce the risk of dementia. However, Middelmann emphasizes that maintaining a healthy diet is just one piece of the puzzle in ensuring brain health and staving off dementia.
Walking, too, has shown promise in protecting cognitive function. A study recently found that taking as simple as 10,000 steps a day reduces the risk of dementia by 50%!
Why is the MedWalk Study Important?
The current study is groundbreaking because it's investigating the combined effect of a Mediterranean diet and walking, providing insights that could lead to improved cognitive health solutions in the future.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates on the MedWalk study as researchers delve deeper into this promising combo!
- The MedWalk intervention, comprising a Mediterranean diet and walking, is a potential game-changer in dementia prevention and cognitive decline, as per the ongoing study.
- The study aims to confirm the benefits of the MedWalk intervention, which has previously shown links between Mediterranean diet and brain health, and walking for cardiovascular health.
- The researchers, hailing from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, are interested in factors like visual memory, learning, mood, quality of life, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and health costs.
- Participants in the study, aged between 60 and 90, are being recruited from South Australia and Victoria, with the recruitment process expanded due to the pandemic.
- After a baseline fitness assessment, participants attend group walking sessions for the first 6 months and monthly sessions for the next 6 months, while also receiving guidance on adopting a healthier diet, such as diversifying away from the standard Australian fare.
- Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist, believes that adopting a Mediterranean diet can help reduce the risk of dementia but also notes that maintaining a healthy diet is just one piece of the puzzle in ensuring brain health, along with regular exercise like walking.
