Mental wellbeing: Adopting Mediterranean diet and regular exercise could offer protection
A joint Australian, New Zealand, and UK study is currently underway to evaluate the combined effect of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline. Known collectively as the "MedWalk intervention," this study aims to determine whether this dual approach can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and various types of dementia, including Alzheimer's.
Previous research has shown that both the Mediterranean diet and walking regularly have positive effects on brain health. The MedWalk study seeks to assess whether these benefits can be magnified by combining the two strategies. Interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers have modified their study timeline, reducing the follow-up period from 2 years to 1, and are recruiting a larger sample of participants.
The primary interest of the study authors is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants. In addition to evaluating this key outcome, the researchers will investigate the intervention's effect on various factors, such as mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
The study participants are 60 to 90-year-olds living in South Australia and Victoria, who were recruited from independent living retirement communities and, due to the pandemic, from the wider community. Special attention is being paid to biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, including glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
To participate in the MedWalk intervention group, individuals must adhere to dietary modifications alongside a supervised walking regimen, supplemented with psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Regular support is provided to help participants stay committed to the program. Participants receive guidance on how a Mediterranean diet differs from a typical Australian diet, and the researchers are offering free extra-virgin olive oil, a key component of the Mediterranean diet, to participants.
After an assessment of baseline aerobic fitness, participants engage in group walking sessions for the first 6 months, followed by monthly sessions for the remainder of the test year. Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, not involved in the current study, commented on research linking the Mediterranean diet with fewer cases of dementia.
According to Middelmann, a Mediterranean diet may benefit brain health through its abundance of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber, as well as its low content of processed grains and sugars. The diet is also associated with lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. Middelmann cautioned that genetics, lifestyle, and overall health are some of the many factors influencing dementia risk, so maintaining a healthy diet is just one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention.
Walking regularly has been found to protect cognitive health by reducing the risk of dementia and slowing cognitive decline. A study found that taking 10,000 steps a day lowered the risk of dementia by 50%. The MedWalk intervention aims to build upon these benefits by combining the effects of the Mediterranean diet and walking.
The current study's data-collection period will be completed by the end of 2023. The authors' findings and insights into the MedWalk approach will contribute valuable knowledge to the ongoing quest for effective dementia prevention strategies.
- The MedWalk intervention involves a combination of adhering to a Mediterranean diet and a supervised walking regimen, with the aim of reducing the risk of cognitive decline and various types of dementia.
- The researchers of the MedWalk study are primarily interested in a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants, but they will also evaluate the intervention's impact on factors such as mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
- Participants in the MedWalk intervention group receive guidance on how a Mediterranean diet differs from a typical Australian diet, and free extra-virgin olive oil, a key component of the Mediterranean diet, is offered to participants.
- Walking regularly is linked to protecting cognitive health by reducing the risk of dementia and slowing cognitive decline, according to a study that showed a 50% reduced risk of dementia with taking 10,000 steps a day.
- A certified nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, Conner Middelmann, commented that this diet may benefit brain health through its high content of antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber, along with its low content of processed grains and sugars.
- The Mediterranean diet is also associated with lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, according to Middelmann, who cautioned that maintaining a healthy diet is just one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention.
