Brain Health: Adopting a Mediterranean diet and maintaining an active lifestyle could potentially provide protective benefits.
How Combining the Mediterranean Diet and Walking May Lower Your Risk of Dementia
Here's the lowdown on an intriguing study exploring the impact of a "MedWalk" intervention – a mix of the Mediterranean diet and regular walking – on dementia and cognitive decline.
The MedWalk Intervention: Breaking it Down
Researchers are testing whether a MedWalk intervention could help individuals lessen their risk of dementia and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's dementia. This is shorthand for a Mediterranean diet combined with increased walking efforts.
Preceding Research
Prior research has connected both the Mediterranean diet and regular walking to brain health. The ongoing study aims to affirm that a combined MedWalk intervention brings benefits to brain health.
Timeline and Participant Details
Research for this study is ongoing, with delays due to COVID-19. Participants are 60 to 90-year-old individuals from South Australia and Victoria living in independent living retirement communities and the broader community.
Cognitive Health Focus
The primary focus of this study is observing a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants. Additionally, researchers are interested in the MedWalk intervention's effects on mood, quality of life, and health costs, as well as cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness.
Understanding the Mediterranean Diet's Role
Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, not involved in the current study, believes that following a Mediterranean diet could be linked to fewer cases of dementia. Other studies have found a link between a Mediterranean diet and reduced cases of Alzheimer's disease. However, Middelmann stresses the importance of considering multiple factors when assessing one's risk of dementia.
Unraveling the Power of Walking
Walking regularly has been associated with slower cognitive decline. A study found that taking 10,000 steps per day reduced the risk of dementia by 50%. Research suggests that walking may improve brain blood flow, benefit cognitive function, and ease overall stress.
So, keep in mind that the MedWalk intervention study still has work to complete, but it's definitely one to watch – especially if you're interested in ways to safeguard your cognitive health!
Would you like more information on other studies related to dementia prevention? Let me know!
- The MedWalk intervention, a combination of the Mediterranean diet and increased walking efforts, is being tested to determine if it can help decrease an individual's risk of dementia and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's dementia.
- Despite the ongoing nature of the study and delays due to COVID-19, the research aims to affirm that a MedWalk intervention brings benefits to brain health.
- Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist not involved in the current study, believes that following a Mediterranean diet could be linked to fewer cases of dementia, and other studies have found a link between a Mediterranean diet and reduced cases of Alzheimer's disease.
- Walking regularly has been associated with slower cognitive decline, as a study found that taking 10,000 steps per day reduced the risk of dementia by 50%.
- Research suggests that walking may improve brain blood flow, benefit cognitive function, and ease overall stress, contributing to mental health and fitness-and-exercise.
- Naive participants aged 60 to 90, from South Australia and Victoria, living in independent living retirement communities and the broader community, are being studied for a 12-month change in their visual memory and learning abilities as part of the MedWalk intervention. The study also focuses on the intervention's effects on mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
