Healthy Cognition: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle May Offer Protection
Let's delve into the intriguing world of the MedWalk study
This ongoing research examines the potential of combining a Mediterranean diet and walking to tackle dementia and cognitive decline, a significant concern for the aging population. Coined as the MedWalk intervention, this study builds upon previous research linking both elements to brain health.
Despite initial plans for a 2-year period, timing and financial constraints due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a single-year follow-up, altering the study's original design yet promising robust findings. Led by researchers hailing from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, the experiment is still in progress, with a wider pool of participants enrolled.
The primary focus of this study centers on evaluating a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants.
Besides the primary outcome, researchers are also interested in analyzing the intervention's effects on a broad range of factors, including mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness. The study involves participants aged 60 to 90, predominantly residing in South Australia and Victoria, either from independent living retirement communities or the larger community, due to the pandemic's impact.
Special attention is paid to various biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress. Participants are divided into two groups: the MedWalk intervention group and a control group maintaining their usual diet and activity levels for comparison purposes.
The MedWalk intervention encompasses a combination of dietary modifications, supervised walking, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Participants receive support during the initial six months, with additional assistance available for the subsequent six months to help them stay committed to the program. Instruction is provided on how a Mediterranean diet differs from a standard Australian diet to help participants better understand the concept. For instance, participants are given extra-virgin olive oil for free due to its significance in a Mediterranean diet.
After evaluating baseline aerobic fitness, participants attend group walking sessions for the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the remainder of the test year.
Mediterranean Diet and Brain Health
Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, who specializes in Mediterranean diets, shared insights with Medical News Today. According to her, studies suggest that adhering to a Mediterranean diet is associated with fewer dementia cases. Inventive studies, such as those in 2017 and 2023, have discovered a correlation between the Mediterranean diet and a lower rate of Alzheimer's disease, the most frequent form of dementia.
However, Middelmann underscores that the Mediterranean diet is merely one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention. The diet boasts antioxidants known to combat oxidative stress and inflammation, which are suspected to be major contributors to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), essential for brain health. Omega-3s have been linked to improved cognitive function and reduced risk of cognitive decline. A balanced gut microbiome due to high fiber intake may also contribute. The consumption of ultra-processed foods, known to precipitate dementia, is discouraged in the diet. Sharing meals with loved ones and regular exercise are other alleged advantages of the Mediterranean diet when it comes to brain health.
The Role of Walking in Cognitive Protection
Walking consistently is associated with a slower decline in cognitive abilities. An earlier study found a dose-dependent relationship: taking 10,000 steps a day lowered dementia risk by 50%. Another research project in the United States and Australia revealed a correlation between walking speed and dementia. A 2017 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that aerobic exercise, such as walking, may fortify cognitive impairment.
The ongoing study's data collection is due to be completed by the end of 2023. The findings, when published, are anticipated to contribute significantly to our understanding of the impact of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on cognitive health in older adults.
- The MedWalk study, currently underway, investigates the combined effects of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline, emphasizing their potential role in brain health.
- The researchers, based in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, aim to explore the 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants as the study's primary outcome.
- In addition to the primary focus, the study also examines the intervention's influence on factors like mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and various biomarkers associated with cognitive decline.
- Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, specializing in Mediterranean diets, believes that adhering to such diets reduces the risk of dementia cases, particularly Alzheimer's disease.
- The MedWalk intervention involves dietary modifications, supervised walking, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques, providing participants with support and instruction on maintaining the Mediterranean diet.
- Walking consistently is linked to a slower decline in cognitive abilities, with studies suggesting that taking 10,000 steps a day could lower dementia risk by 50%.
