Maintaining Brain Health: Adopting the Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle Could Provide Protection
A joint Australian, New Zealand, and United Kingdom research initiative is investigating whether a combined Mediterranean diet and walking regimen, called the "Medwalk intervention," can reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's dementia.
Previous studies have associated both a Mediterranean diet and regular walking with brain health. This study aims to confirm the benefits of these practices when implemented together. The ongoing research, momentarily paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, intends to collect data until late 2023.
The original study design, targeting a 2-year follow-up period, has been adjusted due to the pandemic's impact, reducing the observation to a single year. To accommodate the altered timeline, the authors have broadened the sample of participants, recruiting individuals aged 60 to 90 from independent living retirement communities in South Australia and Victoria, as well as the wider community, due to pandemic constraints.
The primary focus of the study is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants. In addition, the research team will observe the intervention's effects on mood, quality of life, and health costs, as well as cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness. Special attention will be paid to biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.
Participants are randomly assigned to either the Medwalk intervention group or a control group, maintaining their usual diet and activity levels. The intervention involves dietary modification, a supervised walking regimen, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques, with participants receiving intensive support for the initial 6 months, followed by additional help for the subsequent 6 months.
The Mediterranean diet differs significantly from the typical Australian diet, and researchers provide instruction to help participants understand the underlying concept. Participants receive free olive oil and other essential foods appropriate for the Mediterranean diet. After an evaluation of baseline aerobic fitness, participants engage in group walking sessions for the first 6 months, followed by monthly sessions for the rest of the study period.
Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, noted that various studies suggest a connection between adhering to a Mediterranean diet and fewer instances of dementia. Research published in 2023 revealed an association between a Mediterranean diet and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.
Middelmann, however, warned that while these studies suggest a link between the Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of dementia, many factors influence dementia risk, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health. "Therefore, maintaining a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, is just one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention," she added.
The Mediterranean diet may protect brain health in several ways. It is rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and is low in processed grains and sugars, reducing the risk of insulin resistance and inflammation. Additionally, it discourages the consumption of ultra-processed foods, which have been linked to dementia.
Regular walking is also associated with slower cognitive decline. One study found a dose-dependent relationship between the number of steps taken and the risk reduction of dementia, with taking 10,000 steps a day lowering the risk by half. Walking may improve brain health by promoting blood flow to the brain, strengthening cognitive impairment, and reducing feelings of stress while enhancing feelings of well-being. As with the Mediterranean diet, combining both practices could offer synergistic benefits for cognitive health, although specific findings from the "MedWalk intervention study" were not available in the provided search results.
- The Medwalk intervention, a combination of Mediterranean diet and walking regimen, is being investigated in a joint Australian, New Zealand, and United Kingdom research initiative to reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer's dementia.
- Previous studies have associated both a Mediterranean diet and regular walking with improved brain health, prompting this study to confirm their combined benefits.
- Participants recruited for the study, aged between 60 and 90, come from independent living retirement communities and the wider community due to pandemic constraints, as the original study design had to be adjusted to a single-year observation during the pandemic.
- The study primarily focuses on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning for participants, along with observing the intervention's effects on mood, quality of life, and health costs, cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness, and biomarkers associated with cognitive decline.
- Participants are randomly assigned to either the Medwalk intervention group or a control group, with the intervention group receiving dietary modification, a supervised walking regimen, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques.
- Conner Middelmann, a certified nutritionist specializing in the Mediterranean diet, suggests that while studies show a connection between the Mediterranean diet and fewer instances of dementia, maintaining a healthy diet like the Mediterranean is just one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention.
