Mental wellness: Embracing Mediterranean diet and active lifestyle may offer protection
Study Assesses Combined Impact of Mediterranean Diet and Walking on Dementia
Researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are investigating the potential of a combined intervention—dubbed "MedWalk"—to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's. This study, disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, is ongoing, with expected completion by the end of 2023.
The MedWalk intervention blends a Mediterranean-style diet with a walking regimen, supported by behavioral change techniques. Participants, aged 60 to 90, live in the Australian states of South Australia and Victoria, with some recruited from retirement communities and the wider community due to pandemic-related restrictions.
The primary focus of the study is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants. Other areas of interest include mood, quality of life, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness. Special attention is paid to biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
Both a Mediterranean diet and regular walking have been linked to brain health in previous research. Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, not involved in the study, notes that studies suggest followings such a diet is associated with fewer dementia cases. Other studies found an association between a Mediterranean diet and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.
Middelmann cautions that several factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health, can influence dementia risk. Therefore, maintaining a healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet is just one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention.
Research indicates that walking regularly may slow cognitive decline. A study found a dose-dependent relationship between steps taken and reduced dementia risk, with taking 10,000 steps per day potentially lowering the risk by 50%. Walking may benefit brain health by increasing blood flow, reducing stress, and enhancing feelings of well-being.
Brain health coach Ryan Glatt, not associated with the study, explains that walking may improve brain health through several mechanisms, including boosting blood flow, fostering higher brain activity levels, and reducing stress while promoting feelings of well-being. Furthermore, walking allows for social interaction and exposure to nature, which may also contribute to brain health benefits.
- The ongoing study, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, is examining the potential of a combination—MedWalk—of a Mediterranean-style diet and walking to lessen the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's.
- Researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are investigating this potential intervention, focusing on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants aged 60 to 90.
- The study also looks into areas such as mood, quality of life, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness, paying special attention to biomarkers linked to cognitive decline.
- Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, not involved in the study, notes that previous research suggests that a Mediterranean diet may be associated with fewer dementia cases and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease.
- Regular walking, as supported by numerous studies, may slow cognitive decline with a dose-dependent relationship, potentially lowering the dementia risk by 50% if 10,000 steps are taken daily.
- Brain health coach Ryan Glatt, not associated with the study, explains that walking may improve brain health by boosting blood flow, increasing brain activity, reducing stress, and promoting feelings of well-being, as well as providing social interaction and exposure to nature.
