Preserving Brain Health: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle Could Offer Protection
Let's Get Moving and Eating Right: Revisiting the MedWalk Intervention
If you're over 60 and looking to safeguard your brain health, here's an intriguing study that might have your curiosity piqued. Researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are investigating the combined effect of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline, otherwise known as the "MedWalk intervention"!
How Does the MedWalk Intervention Work?
The researchers have brought together two known brain boosters: the Mediterranean diet and regular exercise in the form of walking. They believe that these two components, when combined, may offer increased protection against cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
The Lowdown on the Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet emphasizes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and olives. Brimming with antioxidants, this dietary pattern has been associated with numerous health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease, improved cognitive function, and fight against inflammation.
Walk It Off
Regular physical activity, such as walking, has been proven to improve cardiovascular health, mood, and cognitive function. Plus, it's an easily accessible exercise that can be integrated into one's daily routine.
What's the Plan for the Study?
The study participants, aged 60 to 90, are living in South Australia and Victoria, with some also recruited from independent living retirement communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers have divided the participants into three groups: a Mediterranean diet group, a walking group, and a combined Mediterranean diet plus walking group.
Over the course of the study, the intervention group participants will be provided with instruction on the Mediterranean diet and will engage in supervised group walking sessions for the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the remaining duration of the study.
Why This Study Matters
The study aims to test the hypothesis that the combined intervention of the Mediterranean diet and regular walking can Synergistically reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. If successful, the study could lead to recommendations for low-cost, accessible lifestyle changes to prevent cognitive decline and dementia.
What Else You Should Know
Studies have already linked both a Mediterranean diet and regular walking to improved brain health. Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, noted that previous research has suggested a link between the Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of dementia. Similarly, walking has been associated with slower cognitive decline, with taking 10,000 steps a day potentially lowering dementia risk by 50%.
Only time will tell if the MedWalk intervention offers even greater benefits. With the study data-collection period set to be completed by the end of 2023, we'll soon have more insight into the potential of this intriguing lifestyle intervention for cognitive health. Keep an eye out for updates on this exciting research!
- This study, focused on brain health, investigates the combined effect of the Mediterranean diet and regular walking, known as the MedWalk intervention.
- The MedWalk intervention merges two brain-boosting components: the Mediterranean diet and regular exercise (walking).
- The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and olives, is known for numerous health benefits, including improved cognitive function and reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
- Regular physical activity like walking has been proven to enhance cardiovascular health, mood, and cognitive function, making it easily accessible for daily routine integration.
- In the study, participants aged 60 to 90, located in South Australia and Victoria, are divided into three groups: Mediterranean diet, walking, and a combined Mediterranean diet plus walking group.
- The intervention group participants receive instruction on the Mediterranean diet and engage in supervised group walking sessions for the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the rest of the study.
- If successful, the MedWalk intervention could lead to recommendations for low-cost, accessible lifestyle changes to prevent cognitive decline and dementia.
- Previous research has linked both a Mediterranean diet and regular walking to improved brain health, with a reduced risk of dementia suggested for the Mediterranean diet.
- The study's data-collection period is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023, promising more insights into the potential of this intriguing lifestyle intervention for cognitive health in the future of health-and-wellness, mental-health, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition focused on healthy-diets.
