Maintaining cognitive health: Adopting a Mediterranean diet and leading an active lifestyle could potentially offer protective benefits.
Getting Your Brain Moving: The MedWalk Intervention
Researchers are delving into the potential of a one-two punch for brain health: the MedWalk intervention. MedWalk is a combo of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking, and some scientists believe it may help prevent cognitive decline and dementia.
The study, a joint effort from Australian, New Zealand, and UK researchers, was initially designed to follow participants for two years but was tweaked due to the pandemic. The research is still ongoing, with recruitment of a broader group of seniors aged 60-90.
The team is particularly interested in a 12-month change in participants' visual memory and learning abilities. They're also analyzing the intervention's impact on factors like mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
The MedWalk intervention group will follow a modified Mediterranean diet, complete with group walking sessions, psychosocial behavior change techniques, and plenty of guidance to make the transition enjoyable and workable. Participants in the control group will stick to their usual diet and exercise routine.
A certified nutritionist, Conner Middelmann, told us that a Mediterranean diet has been linked to a lower risk of dementia in various studies. The diet's health benefits include:
- Rich in antioxidants, combating oxidative stress and inflammation that contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
- High in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), vital for brain health, and linked to improved cognitive function and a lower risk of cognitive decline.
- High in fiber, maintaining a balanced gut microbiome and reducing the risk of insulin resistance and inflammation.
- Low in processed grains, sugars, and ultra-processed foods, known contributors to dementia.
- An emphasis on social dining and regular exercise, both linked to improved brain health.
Walking regularly also seems to help maintain brainpower, with studies showing benefits like increased blood flow, improved cognitive function, and stress reduction. The MedWalk intervention's data-collection period will wrap up in 2023. Stay tuned for findings!
- The MedWalk intervention, a combination of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking, is being studied by researchers for its potential in preventing cognitive decline and dementia.
- The research, initially designed for a two-year span, has been modified due to the pandemic and now includes recruitment of a broader group of seniors aged 60-90.
- The study aims to assess a 12-month change in participants' visual memory and learning abilities, as well as factors like mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
- The MedWalk intervention group will follow a modified Mediterranean diet, attend group walking sessions, and receive guidance on psychosocial behavior change techniques, aiming for an enjoyable and workable transition.
- A certified nutritionist, Conner Middelmann, has noted that a Mediterranean diet has been linked to a lower risk of dementia, due to its high antioxidant content, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and low processed grain, sugar, and ultra-processed food intake.
- Regular walking, a key component of the MedWalk intervention, has been shown to help maintain brainpower by increasing blood flow, improving cognitive function, and reducing stress.
- With data collection set to wrap up in 2023, we eagerly await the findings from this study that merges health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health aspects of a person's lifestyle.
- The hopes are high that this innovative MedWalk intervention will pave the way for a healthier future, marked by better cognition and reduced risks of dementia and Alzheimer's in the scientific community in 2023 and beyond.
