Diet and Lifestyle Might Preserve Cognitive Health: Active Living and Mediterranean Diet Could Offer Protection
Get the lowdown on the MedWalk intervention, a groundbreaking study that's shedding light on the combined impact of the Mediterranean diet and walking on cognitive health and dementia.
Recent research has connected both a Mediterranean diet and regular walking to better brain function. The MedWalk study aims to confirm the benefits of this combo, going beyond previous research that just looked at each factor individually.
Conducted by researchers from Australia, NZ, and the UK, the study comprises adults aged 60-90, who were recruited from retirement communities or the broader community due to the pandemic.
The intervention is known as the "MedWalk," shorthand for a Mediterranean diet combined with walking. Researchers provide support for participants, with more help in the first 6 months and less in the next 6, to help them stick with the plan.
Participants were divided into a MedWalk intervention group or a control group. The intervention comprises dietary changes and a supervised walking routine, plus psychosocial behavioral change techniques.
Researchers believe the modified study design, despite being cut short due to COVID-19, will still yield strong findings. The primary outcome they're focusing on is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants.
They'll also be monitoring the intervention's effects on mood, quality of life, and health costs, as well as cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness.
So, what's the scoop on the Mediterranean diet and cognition? A nutritionist recommends the diet for brain health, pointing to studies suggesting it's linked to lower rates of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Still, it's important to remember that genetics, lifestyle, and overall health play a role in dementia risk.
Walking regularly has also been associated with better brain health. A study found that taking 10,000 steps each day could lower the risk of dementia by half. Walking is believed to boost brain blood flow, reduce overall stress, improve feelings of well-being, and may even incorporate social elements and exposure to nature, all of which may contribute to better brain health.
The data-collection period for the MedWalk study should wrap up by the end of 2023. Stay tuned for more findings!
- The health benefits of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking, when combined, are being explored in the MedWalk study, a groundbreaking intervention in the field of health-and-wellness and mental-health.
- Researchers involved in the MedWalk study, based in Australia, NZ, and the UK, have recruited adults aged 60-90 to understand the combined impact on cognitive health and dementia.
- The MedWalk intervention, a synergy of a Mediterranean diet and walking, uses psychosocial behavioral change techniques, supervised walking routines, and dietary changes to promote better brain function and potentially reduce dementia rates, such as Alzheimer's disease.
- A healthy diet consisting of Mediterranean-style foods, rich in nutrients like fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil, has been recommended by nutritionists for improved brain health due to its associations with lower dementia risks.
- Regular walking, a essential component of the MedWalk study, has been linked to better brain health, as it boosts blood flow to the brain, reduces stress levels, improves well-being, and offers social and natural exposure benefits.
- The MedWalk study findings, focusing on 12-month changes in visual memory and learning for participants, are expected to be announced by the end of 2023, providing valuable insights into the intersection of nutrition, fitness-and-exercise, and cognitive health.
