Mediterranean diet and active lifestyle may foster cognitive health protection
A groundbreaking study dubbed MedWalk is investigating the combined impact of adhering to a Mediterranean diet and engaging in regular walking to combat dementia and cognitive decline. The MedWalk intervention melds a Mediterranean diet with a supervised walking routine, fortified with behavioral change techniques. Hence, the name MedWalk.
Although earlier research associates both the Mediterranean diet and exercise with brain health, this study aims to establish the synergistic effect of this lifestyle combo. Researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK are leading the investigation, muddied by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the disruption, the team has reported their progress in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Initially, the study planned to assess cognition over a 2-year period. However, due to the pandemic's timing and financial impact, the follow-up period has been reduced to a single year. The study is still active, with researchers enlisting more participants to build a solid sample size.
The primary interest of the researchers lies in the 12-month change in participants' visual memory and learning skills. They also want to observe the impact on mood, quality of life, and healthcare costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
Participants aged 60-90 from South Australia and Victoria were chosen for the study. The sample includes residents of independent living retirement communities as well as participants from the wider community who joined the study due to the pandemic.
The study pays special attention to biomarkers linked to cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress. Participants are divided into an experimental group following the MedWalk intervention and a control group maintaining their usual diet and activity level.
The MedWalk intervention offers support for the first six months, followed by additional help for the next six months, to help participants stay committed. Instructors educate participants on the differences between a Mediterranean diet and an Australian diet to help them grasp the concept. To facilitate adoption, participants receive free extra-virgin olive oil, crucial to the Mediterranean diet, among other foods.
After assessing each participant's aerobic fitness, they attend group walking sessions for the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the remainder of the test year.
Studies have shown that following a Mediterranean diet may lower dementia cases. Similarly, regular walking has been linked to slower cognitive decline. One study found that taking 10,000 steps a day could slash the dementia risk by half. Other research confirms that walking can improve brain health by increasing blood flow, benefiting brain activity, and reducing stress levels, among other advantages.
In summary, the MedWalk study aims to explore the combined benefits of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking for cognitive health and dementia prevention. While specific findings from the study are yet to be published, the concept of combining diet and exercise for better health is gaining traction in cognitive research.
- The MedWalk study, designed to investigate the combined impact of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking, seeks to establish the synergistic effect of this lifestyle combination on dementia and cognitive decline.
- The MedWalk intervention, which merges a Mediterranean diet with a supervised walking routine, is bolstered by behavioral change techniques, aiming to enhance brain health.
- Researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK are leading the MedWalk investigation, initially planning to assess cognition over a 2-year period but now reduced to a single year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Particular focus of the MedWalk study is the 12-month change in participants' visual memory and learning skills, as well as the impact on mood, quality of life, healthcare costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
- The study's participant pool, aged 60-90, comes from South Australia and Victoria, including residents of independent living retirement communities and those from the wider community affected by the pandemic.
- The MedWalk intervention provides support for the first six months, followed by additional help for the next six months, and offers educational resources on the Mediterranean diet, such as free extra-virgin olive oil, to facilitate its adoption.
