Preserving Brain Health: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Leading Active Lifestyle Could Offer Protection
It's all about the MedWalk adventure, a, well, adventurous fusion of a Mediterranean diet and good ol' walking, aiming to prevent dem' Alzheimer's and manage cognitive decline like a boss!
This intriguing study, currently underway, is brainchild of researchers hailing from down under—Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. But, ya know, thatCOVID19 business threw a wrench in their plans, so they've published their processes in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease for all to see.
First off, MedWalk's main objective is to check out a change in visual memory and learning over the course of a year for those participating. But they're not stopping there; they want to know if this method affects mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and more!
Participants are 60 to 90-year-olds from South Australia and Victoria, scooped up from independent living retirement communities. Thanks to that pesky pandemic, they've started recruiting from the larger community too!
Researchers have gotta keep an eye on biomarkers related to cognitive decline, like glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress. To join the MedWalk crew, individuals are assigned to either the intervention group or the control group, who keep cruisin' with their regular diet and activity levels.
The MedWalk intervention involves modifying your diet and knocking out a supervised walking regimen, boosted with psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Participants receive heaps of support for the first 6 months, with additional help on deck for the rest of the journey. They're even provided with info on how the Mediterranean diet varies from an Aussie diet to help participants get the hang of it!
Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, who ain't involved in this study, shared her thoughts with Medical News Today. She pointed out that past research suggests that folks who follow a Mediterranean diet could reduce their risk of dementia. Added bonus—studies have connected this diet to lower rates of Alzheimer's disease (the most common form of dementia).
However, Middelmann wasn't shy about reminding everyone that while the research association looks promising, factors like genetics, lifestyle, and overall health can all influence our risk of dementia. Essentially, a healthy diet is just one piece of the brain health and dementia prevention puzzle.
But hey, why stop at a single puzzle piece? Walking regularly has been connected to a slower rate of cognitive decline as well. One study found that you can lower your dementia risk by half if you take 10,000 steps per day!
Brain health coach Ryan Glatt, not part of this study, broke down how walking may support your brain: increased blood flow, boosted brain activity, stress reduction, and a positive impact on your overall well-being. Plus, there's the social and nature aspects to consider!
Stick around, because the study's data-collection period will wrap up by the end of 2023. We'll be eagerly waiting to see the final results!
- The MedWalk study, designed to prevent Alzheimer's and manage cognitive decline, is the brainchild of researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
- MedWalk aims to observe changes in visual memory and learning over a year, with a focus on mental health, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and various health-related aspects.
- Participants are individuals aged 60 to 90, taken from independent living retirement communities, with recruitment recently expanding into the larger community due to the pandemic.
- Researchers are monitoring biomarkers related to cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress for the study.
- Participants are assigned to either the intervention group, following a Mediterranean diet and a supervised walking regimen, or the control group, maintaining their regular diet and activity levels.
- A certified nutritionist, Conner Middelmann, suggests that following a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, while regular walking has been linked to a slower rate of cognitive decline, and improved mental health and well-being.
