Diet and Lifestyle: Mediterranean Eating Pattern and Active Exercise potentially offer cognitive health protection.
A new study is investigating the potential combined benefits of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on dementia and cognitive decline, with the research ongoing since 2020 and set to conclude by the end of 2023. This study aims to assess the combined effect of these two lifestyle factors, both of which have previously been associated with improved brain health.
The research, conducted by a collaboration of scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, is being undertaken through the MedWalk intervention. This intervention combines a Mediterranean diet with a supervised walking regimen, in an attempt to establish the potential benefits for cognitive health.
Originally designed to follow participants over a 2-year period, the study was initially disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the follow-up period has been shortened to one year, with a wider sample of participants recruited to account for the modified scope.
The primary focus of the study is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants. Secondary outcomes include observing the intervention's impact on various factors such as mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
The participants in the study are individuals aged 60-90 residing in South Australia and Victoria, who were originally recruited from independent living retirement communities. As a consequence of the pandemic, participants have also been recruited from the wider community.
Attention is being paid to biomarkers associated with cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress. Participants are divided into two groups: the MedWalk intervention group and a control group who maintain their usual diet and activity level.
Previous research has suggested a link between a Mediterranean diet and reduced instances of dementia, with a significant association between the diet and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. Similarly, walking regularly has been associated with slower cognitive decline.
A dose-dependent relationship between the number of steps taken and a reduced risk of dementia has been identified, with taking 10,000 steps a day potentially lowering the risk by 50%. Walking may positively impact brain health by increasing brain blood flow, enhancing cognitive function, reducing stress, and incorporating social and nature-related elements, among other benefits.
The current study's data-collection period will be completed by the end of 2023.
References:
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23943028
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16598074
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006349517304574
- The ongoing MedWalk study, initiated in 2020, combines a Mediterranean diet with regular walking to investigate their potential collective benefits on dementia and cognitive decline.
- The study, initially planned to last two years, was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been shortened to a one-year follow-up, with a larger participant pool recruited to account for the revised scope.
- Participants in the study, aged 60-90, are divided into two groups: those following the MedWalk intervention and a control group maintaining their usual diet and activity level.
- The primary focus of the study is a 12-month change in visual memory and learning among participants, with secondary outcomes examining mood, quality of life, health costs, cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness.
- Biomarkers related to cognitive decline, such as glucose regulation, inflammation, nutrients, and oxidative stress, are also being monitored in the study.
- Previous research has suggested a link between a Mediterranean diet and a lower risk of dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease, and regular walking has been associated with slower cognitive decline. A dose-dependent relationship has been identified, with taking 10,000 steps a day potentially lowering the risk by 50%.
