Let's Talk MedWalk: Combining the Mediterranean Diet and Walking for Better Brain Health
Enhancing Brain Health: Adhering to Mediterranean Diet and Regular Physical Activity Could Be Protective Factors
Hey there! Ever heard of the MedWalk intervention? It's a kickass idea aiming to cut down on cognitive decline and dementia risks by merging the Mediterranean diet and regular walking. Neat, huh?
Brain Health Bonanza
Both the Mediterranean diet and regular exercise like walking have long been connected to swoon-worthy brain health. But now, a swanky study is probing the wicked duo's combined impact, hoping to confirm their synergistic advantage. Led by researchers from down under (Australia, New Zealand, and the UK), this groundbreaking study is currently underway, and despite a wee COVID-19 pause, the peeps behind it have been posting updates in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
The Plan
Originally scheduled to follow participants for 2 years, the study had to adapt due to unforeseen circumstances (cough, cough, pandemic). Now, they've reduced the follow-up period to one year, aiming for a broad range of participants from independent living retirement communities in South Australia and Victoria.
So, what's the big deal, you ask? Well, the researchers are chiefly interested in witnessing a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants. But they're also keen on observing the combo's effects on various aspects, like mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and more.
Cognitive Gems
Now, some folks might wonder if this Nordic-Mediterranean dance could actually work. Conner Middelmann, a licensed nutrition expert specializing in the Mediterranean diet, weighed in on this very question. She shared enlightening insights with Medical News Today, revealing that earlier research has hinted at the link between the Mediterranean diet and fewer cases of dementia.
However, she cautiously reminds us that countless factors influence dementia risk, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health. Middelmann says a healthy diet like the Mediterranean one is just one piece of the comprehensive cognitive puzzle.
The Brain-Boosting Diet
The Mediterranean diet might contribute to brain health by offering yummy antioxidants that combat inflammation and oxidative stress, factors believed to contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, said Middelmann. The diet is also stuffed with omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), crucial for brain health, and linked to improved cognitive function and a lowered risk of cognitive decline.
Moreover, the diet helps keep the gut microbiome balanced, decreasing the likelihood of insulin resistance and inflammation. It chairs the consumption of ultra-processed foods, which have been linked to dementia, and emphasizes family and friend gatherings, activities that promote brain health too.
Strutting Towards Dementia Prevention
Similarly, walking regularly has been associated with slower cognitive decline. Intriguingly, a study reported a whopping 50% lower risk of dementia by simply taking 10,000 steps a day. Other research confirmed a connection between walking speed and dementia, while another 2017 study spoiled the party by revealing that aerobic exercise like walking could potentially improve cognitive impairment.
Final Strides
The current study's data-collection period will wrap up in 2023, and if everything goes according to plan, we'll have more insight into this tantalizing MedWalk intervention's potential to support and safeguard our brains against dementia and cognitive decline. Fingers crossed!
- The MedWalk intervention, a blend of the Mediterranean diet and regular walking, is designed to reduce cognitive decline and dementia risks.
- The research study investigating the combined impact of the Mediterranean diet and walking on brain health is currently ongoing, led by researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, despite a brief COVID-19 pause.
- The study aims to observe changes in visual memory and learning, as well as various other aspects like mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness in participants over a one-year follow-up period.
- Conner Middelmann, a licensed nutrition expert, suggests that earlier research has linked the Mediterranean diet to a lower risk of dementia, but emphasizes that many factors contribute to dementia risk, including lifestyle and genetics.
- The Mediterranean diet may promote brain health by providing antioxidants to combat inflammation and oxidative stress, omega-3 fatty acids like DHA crucial for brain health, and by keeping the gut microbiome balanced.
- Regular walking has been associated with slower cognitive decline, and studies have suggested potential links between walking and a lower risk of dementia, as well as improved cognitive impairment.
