Mental Sharpness: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle Could Provide Protection
Crafty investigation combines Mediterranean diet and walking to uncover dementia and cognitive decline secrets
Science is stirring the pot with an intriguing study entitled the "MedWalk intervention," exploring a tantalizing combination - a Mediterranean diet and regular walking - and its potential to stave off cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's. It's like making a delicious Italian meal and taking a brisk stroll, but with brain-boosting benefits instead of a full belly!
Research linking both Mediterranean diet and walking to positive brain health lays the groundwork for this experiment.
The dazzling study partners scientists from Down Under (Australia), Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Blighty (United Kingdom), who've been conducting their captivating research since it wasn't pandemic mayhem. Their findings and ongoing analysis can be found in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
The research's original objective aimed to track cognitive function over a two-year period, but COVID-19 called for a bit of improvisation. Adjustments were made to narrow the follow-up period to a single year and widen the participant pool.
The juicy outcome the researchers are chasing is a 12-month improvement in participants' visual memory and learning abilities.
Beyond that, the researchers are eager to delve into the intervention's impact on participants' mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
Participants, aged 60 to 90, hail from South Australia and Victoria and live in independent-living retirement communities.
Due to the pandemic, recruitment extended to involved individuals from the larger community as well. A focus on critical biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress, is particularly significant.
Participants are split into two groups: a MedWalk intervention group following a modified Mediterranean diet and a walking regimen with supportive measures, and a control group sticking to their usual lifestyle.
The MedWalk intervention provides participants with valuable resources, such as free extra-virgin olive oil, seminars on Mediterranean diet differences from the typical Australian diet, and guidance on the benefits of the diet and exercise.
Participants undertake an assessment of their aerobic fitness before engaging in group walking sessions for the first six months. This is followed by monthly sessions for the remainder of the test year.
Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, shared her insights with Medical News Today.
Her explanation illustrates potential reasons for the Mediterranean diet's brain-protecting qualities: its array of antioxidants, DHA omega-3 fatty acids, fiber-rich diet, reduced processed grains and sugar intake, and discouragement of ultra-processed foods. Middelmann emphasizes the social aspects of the Mediterranean diet, such as shared meals with loved ones, and regular exercise, as additional contributors to cognitive benefits.
Walking's cognitive perks include increased blood flow, beneficial changes in brain activity, reduced stress levels, and enhanced feelings of well-being.
One fascinating study suggests that taking 10,000 steps a day can halve your risk of dementia! Walking has also been linked to improved cognitive function and a lowered risk of cognitive decline.
As the data-collection period for this awe-inspiring experiment draws to a close at the end of 2023, we eagerly await the results that will shed even more light on the mysteries of dementia and cognitive decline. It's a walk on the wild side of science to help us all grok more about keeping our noggins young and nimble!
- The MedWalk intervention study, a combination of Mediterranean diet and regular walking, aims to shed light on secrets of dementia and cognitive decline.
- The study's continuation is led by scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, with a focus on understanding the impact on brain health and cognitive function.
- Participants, aged 60 to 90, comprising individuals from South Australia and Victoria, engage in walking sessions and follow a modified Mediterranean diet for the study's duration.
- Conner Middelmann, a nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, believes that the diet's benefits include antioxidants, DHA omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, reduced processed foods, and social aspects that contribute to better cognitive health.
- The physical activity component of walking is linked to increased blood flow, beneficial brain changes, stress reduction, and improved mental well-being, potentially halving the risk of dementia.
- Future findings from the MedWalk intervention will contribute to our understanding of healthy diets, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and the prevention of Alzheimer's and dementia, ultimately promoting overall health-and-wellness.
