Maintaining mental acuity: Adopting Mediterranean diet and regular physical activity as protective measures
A groundbreaking investigation, dubbed MedWalk intervention, is currently underway, exploring the joint influence of following a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline. This study aims to confirm the beneficial impact of this lifestyle combo on brain health and potentially lower the risk of cognitive decline and dementias, such as Alzheimer's.
Despite being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers from various countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, are persevering with this study. They've published updates on their methods and progress in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, setting regular participants between 60 and 90 years old from South Australia and Victoria, Australia.
The main focus of this study is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants, but researchers eye other vital areas, such as mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness. The MedWalk intervention entails diet modification, supervised walking, and well-rounded behavioral changes to promote adherence for a healthier brain and reduced dementia risk.
The benefits of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking have been linked to brain health previously, but this study aims to shed light on the combined effect. The combination of dietary changes and supervised walking includes intensive support for the first six months, with further assistance available for the following six months, bolstering the participants' resolve.
By offering guidance on how a Mediterranean diet differs from a typical Australian diet, researchers aim to help participants understand and embrace this dietary approach. Furthermore, to facilitate healthy eating, they provide participants with free olive oil and other Mediterranean-friendly foods.
Group walking sessions are held regularly, followed by monthly sessions to ensure participants maintain a consistent walking routine throughout the study. If you're interested in learning more about the Mediterranean diet's potential benefits for cognitive health, consider the insights provided by Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist focusing on the Mediterranean diet.
Studies have shown that following a Mediterranean diet could decrease the risk of dementia. Moreover, research conducted in 2023 revealed an association between a Mediterranean diet and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. However, it's crucial to remember that various factors may influence dementia risk, so maintaining a healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet is merely one facet of a broader approach to brain health and dementia prevention.
Walking regularly is associated with slower cognitive decline as well. One study found a dose-dependent relationship between the number of daily steps taken and the reduced risk of dementia, with 10,000 steps lowering the risk by 50%. Other research has discovered links between walking speed and dementia, as well as a strengthening of cognitive impairment through aerobic exercise like walking.
The MedWalk intervention study's data collection phase will be completed by the end of 2023. Stay tuned for the final results to understand the combined influence of the Mediterranean diet and walking on cognitive health and dementia risk more comprehensively!
- The MedWalk intervention study, currently underway, aims to confirm the beneficial impact of a combination of following a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline, focusing on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants.
- Researchers involved in MedWalk intervention are publishing updates on their methods and progress in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, setting regular participants aged between 60 and 90 years old from South Australia and Victoria, Australia.
- By offering guidance on how a Mediterranean diet differs from a typical Australian diet, researchers aim to help participants understand and embrace this dietary approach, providing them with free olive oil and other Mediterranean-friendly foods.
- Group walking sessions are held regularly, followed by monthly sessions to ensure participants maintain a consistent walking routine throughout the study, as the benefits of regular walking have been associated with slower cognitive decline.
- As studies have shown, following a Mediterranean diet could decrease the risk of dementia, with research conducted in 2023 revealing an association between a Mediterranean diet and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.
- The combined effect of dietary changes and supervised walking, featuring intensive support for the first six months, is the primary focus of the MedWalk intervention, strengthening the participants' resolve towards adhering to a healthier brain and reduced dementia risk.
