Investigating the Powerhouse Duo: MedWalk and Cognitive Health
Maintaining cognitive health: Potential benefits of a Mediterranean diet and active living style.
A groundbreaking study is delving into the potential combined impact of the MedWalk intervention - a blend of the Mediterranean diet and regular walking - on dementia, cognitive decline, and brain health.
MedWalk? It's just the Mediterranean diet and walking, partner. This innovative combination has garnered attention due to the separate benefits each component offers for brain health.
Preliminary research illustrates that both the Mediterranean diet and the art of pounding the pavement may contribute to a healthy noggin. This study seeks to answer the intriguing question: what happens when we put these two mighty factors together?
The study, taking its first steps in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, is currently underway, with reporting interruptions due to COVID-19. The scientists behind the study have gone ahead and published their research plans and ongoing analyses in Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
MedWalk: The Power Couple for Brain Health
The original intent was to gauge cognition over a two-year span; however, the financial and timing constraints brought about by the pandemic have necessitated a single-year follow-up, with plans to involve an expanded cohort of participants.
Despite the modifications, the researchers remain optimistic, believing the altered setup will yield robust findings.
The crux of this study centers on the 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants.
Aside from assessing memory and learning, the researchers will also keep a keen eye on mood, quality of life, and health costs, as well as cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness.
The participants, aged 60-90, hail from independent living retirement communities in South Australia and Victoria, and a few from the broader community due to the pandemic's disruptions.
Depth is lent to the study by focusing on relevant biomarkers linked to 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 that maintains their usual diet and activity levels.
The intervention itself involves dietary modifications and a guided walking program, bolstered by psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Support is provided for the initial six months, with additional assistance lasting the following six months to ensure participants stay on track.
The researchers offer insights on adopting the Mediterranean diet by illuminating its contrast to a typical Australian diet, and offer advantages, such as extra-virgin olive oil, to help participants grasp the diet's essence.
After evaluating participants' baseline aerobic fitness, the group embarks on monthly walking sessions during the first six months, followed by group sessions for the remainder of the study period.
The Mediterranean Diet and Brain Health
Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, who specializes in the Mediterranean diet and isn't associated with the current study, chatted with Medical News Today about the diet's potential for dementia prevention.
Studies indicate that following a Mediterranean diet could decrease the odds of developing dementia, and some research in 2023 even linked the diet to reduced Alzheimer's disease rates - the most common type of dementia.
Despite these promising findings, Middelmann cautions that a multitude of factors can impact dementia risk, such as genetics, lifestyle, and overall health.
"Eating a Mediterranean diet is merely one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention," emphasized Middelmann.
This healthy eating plan may flourish brain health through:
- antioxidants that fend off oxidative stress and inflammation, key contributors to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases
- omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, which are essential for brain health and have been linked to improved cognitive function and reduced cognitive decline
- fiber that aids digestive health and gut microbiome balance
- minimal processed grains and sugars, reducing the risk of insulin resistance and inflammation
- minimal consumption of ultra-processed foods, known to exacerbate dementia risk.
Sharing meals with friends and family and regular physical activity - like walking - are other facets of the Mediterranean diet associated with improved brain health.
The Magic of Walking for Brain Health
Walking regularly has been linked to a slowed pace of cognitive decline.
One study found a direct relationship between the number of steps taken and lower dementia risk - taking 10,000 steps a day apparently cuts dementia risk in half.
On the heels of that study, research in the United States and Australia discovered a correlation between walking speed and dementia, and a 2017 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that exercise such as walking can fortify cognitive performance.
"Walking might boost brain health in one or more ways," explained brain health coach Ryan Glatt from the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, who isn't affiliated with this study.
Walking may boost blood flow to the brain, depending on its intensity, duration, and frequency, and it may "benefit levels of brain activity, while reducing feelings of overall stress and fostering feelings of well-being."
"Walking can also incorporate social elements and exposure to nature, both of which are beneficial for brain health," added Glatt.
The study's data collection is slated to wrap up by the end of 2023. Let's keep our fingers crossed for fascinating findings from the world of MedWalk and cognitive health!
- The groundbreaking study investigating MedWalk is exploring its combined impact on dementia, cognitive decline, and brain health, particularly focusing on the 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants.
- Aside from assessing memory and learning, researchers will also examine mood, quality of life, and health costs, as well as cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness in participants aged 60-90.
- In addition to MedWalk, a certified nutritionist, Conner Middelmann, has highlighted the potential benefits of the Mediterranean diet for dementia prevention, suggesting it may reduce the odds of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
- The Mediterranean diet can aid brain health by providing antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, minimal processed grains and sugars, and minimal consumption of ultra-processed foods.
- Regular walking, one aspect of the Mediterranean diet, has been linked to a slowed pace of cognitive decline and a reduced dementia risk, potentially boosting brain health through increased blood flow, reduced stress, and social and nature exposure.
- The study's findings are expected to be reported by the end of 2023, promising to unveil more insights into the powerhouse duo of MedWalk and cognitive health.
