Maintaining Brain Health: Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle as Potential Protective Factors
A groundbreaking study is examining the collective impact of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline. Both the Mediterranean diet and regular exercise have been linked to brain health, and this study aims to determine their combined effect. The research, which will conclude at the end of 2023, is being conducted by a team of researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Originally designed to run for two years, the study had to be modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the follow-up period was shortened to a single year, the researchers feel the changes will provide strong results. The primary focus of the study is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants.
Additionally, the study will assess the intervention's effect on mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness. Participants range from 60 to 90 years old and hail from South Australia and Victoria. Researchers have cautiously expanded their recruitment efforts due to the pandemic, including independent living retirement communities and the larger community at large.
Special attention is being paid to biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress. Participants are assigned to either a MedWalk intervention group or a control group that maintains their typical diet and activity level. The intervention involves dietary modifications, supervised walking, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Participants receive intensive support for the first six months, followed by additional help for the subsequent six months.
Researchers are providing participants with instruction on the Mediterranean diet and offering extra-virgin olive oil and various foods to support the dietary shift. After a baseline assessment of aerobic fitness, participants engage in group walking sessions for the first six months, followed by monthly sessions for the rest of the year.
Previous research has linked both the Mediterranean diet and walking to improved brain health. Certified nutritionist Conner Middelmann, not involved in the current study, noted that following a Mediterranean diet has been associated with fewer cases of dementia. Other studies have found an association between the Mediterranean diet and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.
While Middelmann acknowledged the link between the Mediterranean diet and reduced dementia risk, she cautioned that many factors influence this risk, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health. She emphasized that maintaining a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, is just one aspect of a comprehensive approach to brain health and dementia prevention.
Regular walking has also been linked to slower cognitive decline. A study found a dose-dependent relationship between the number of steps taken and the risk of dementia, with taking 10,000 steps a day reducing the risk by 50%. A study conducted in the United States and Australia found a link between walking speed and dementia, while research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that aerobic exercise, such as walking, can strengthen cognitive impairment.
Brain health coach Ryan Glatt from the Pacific Neuroscience Institute explained that walking may improve brain health by increasing blood flow, depending on the intensity, duration, and frequency of walking. It may also benefit levels of brain activity, reduce feelings of stress, and improve overall well-being. Walking may also incorporate social elements and exposure to nature, both of which may have additional brain benefits.
The data collection period for the ongoing study will be completed by the end of 2023. The results of the study have the potential to contribute significantly to our understanding of how lifestyle interventions can help combat cognitive decline and dementia.
- The study, examining the impact of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline, is being conducted by a team of researchers from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
- The research focuses on a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants, aged 60 to 90 years old, and hailing from South Australia and Victoria.
- Participants are assigned to either a MedWalk intervention group or a control group, with the intervention involving dietary modifications, supervised walking, and psychosocial behavioral change techniques.
- Researchers provide participants with instruction on the Mediterranean diet, offering extra-virgin olive oil and various foods to support the dietary shift, and engage them in group walking sessions.
- Previous research has shown that both the Mediterranean diet and regular walking are linked to improved brain health, reduced dementia risk, and slower cognitive decline.
- The study's findings, set to be concluded by the end of 2023, have the potential to contribute significantly to our understanding of how lifestyle interventions can help combat cognitive decline and dementia.
