Mental Sharpness: Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle May Offer Protection
A joint Australian, New Zealand, and UK study is investigating the cumulative impact of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline. Known as the "MedWalk intervention," this study aims to assess the potential combined benefits of these two lifestyle factors, both of which have been linked to improved brain health.
Previous research has indicated that both adhering to a Mediterranean diet and regular physical activity, including walking, may contribute to better brain health. This new study seeks to confirm the benefits of the MedWalk intervention. Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the research is being carried out with a larger participant base and a revised follow-up period of one year.
The primary focus of the study is to monitor a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants. Additionally, scientists are keen to observe the effects on mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and various biomarkers associated with cognitive decline.
Participants in the study are 60-to-90-year-old individuals from South Australia and Victoria, recruited from independent living retirement communities and, due to the pandemic, from the broader community as well. The research is ongoing, with researchers paying particular attention to glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
The MedWalk intervention involves dietary modifications, a supervised walking regimen, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Participants receive intensive support for the first six months, with additional help available for the next six months to maintain their progress. Instruction on the differences between a Mediterranean diet and a typical Australian diet is provided to help participants understand the concept.
Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, not involved in the current study, told Medical News Today that previous research suggests a link between following a Mediterranean diet and a lower incidence of dementia. The Mediterranean diet is rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and low in processed grains and sugars, potentially contributing to better brain health through various mechanisms.
Walking regularly has also been associated with slower cognitive decline, with one study finding that taking 10,000 steps a day could reduce the risk of dementia by 50%. Regular walking is thought to improve brain blood flow, boost brain activity, reduce stress, and provide benefits from social interactions and exposure to nature.
Brain health coach Ryan Glatt, not involved in the study, added that walking may enhance cognitive function and delay cognitive decline in one or more ways. The study's data-collection period is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
- The MedWalk intervention, being investigated in a joint study, combines a Mediterranean diet and regular walking, both linked to improved brain health and potentially reducing the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
- The ongoing study, with participants aged 60-90 from South Australia and Victoria, focuses on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning, as well as assessing mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, and various biomarkers associated with cognitive decline.
- The MedWalk intervention involves dietary modifications, a supervised walking regimen, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques, with participants receiving intensive support for the first six months and additional help for the next six months.
- Previous research has suggested a link between following a Mediterranean diet and a lower incidence of dementia, due to its richness in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and low levels of processed grains and sugars.
- Regular walking has been associated with slower cognitive decline, with one study indicating that taking 10,000 steps a day could reduce the risk of dementia by 50%.
- Both a healthy diet, such as a Mediterranean diet, and regular physical activity, including walking, are essential components of a comprehensive health-and-wellness plan, promoting mental-health, fitness-and-exercise, and overall brain health.
