Maintaining Brain Health: Adopting Mediterranean Diet and Active Lifestyle could offer shielding benefits
Researchers are currently investigating the potential combined benefits of a Mediterranean diet and regular walking on cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The study, titled "MedWalk," involves participants aged 60 to 90 from Australia and New Zealand, originally recruited from independent living retirement communities but expanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MedWalk intervention consists of a Mediterranean diet paired with a supervised walking regime, bolstered by psychosocial behavioral change techniques. Participants receive support for the first six months, with assistance available for an additional six months. Preliminary data from the ongoing study indicates promising results in slowing cognitive decline and improving brain health.
Early observations reveal that those adhering to both the Mediterranean diet and regular walking showed better memory, executive function, and processing speed performance compared to control groups. Additionally, biomarkers associated with neurodegeneration and inflammation displayed favorable changes, suggesting reduced neuroinflammatory processes. Imaging studies indicated that brain volume and connectivity in key cognitive regions were either preserved or improved.
Other benefits observed include improvements in cardiovascular health, better blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and glucose metabolism. Combined with the walking aspect, participants also saw enhanced physical fitness and reduced body weight. Preliminary results also suggest that the intervention is acceptable and sustainable for participants, increasing the potential for long-term adoption and support for cognitive resilience.
Previous studies have links between the Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of dementia, while walking is associated with slower cognitive decline. Specifically, researchers found that taking 10,000 steps a day lowered the risk of dementia by 50%. Meanwhile, walking improves brain health in various ways, such as increased brain blood flow, improvements in brain activity, reduced stress, and enhanced feelings of well-being.
The data collection for the ongoing study is set to be completed by the end of 2023. The research team's aim is to confirm the benefits of the combined MedWalk intervention for delaying or preventing cognitive decline and dementia. Further follow-ups and larger trials will be needed to verify the long-term effectiveness of the MedWalk intervention.
- The MedWalk intervention, involving a Mediterranean diet and regular walking, is showing promising results in slowing cognitive decline and improving brain health.
- Participants who adhere to both the Mediterranean diet and regular walking exhibit better memory, executive function, and processing speed compared to control groups.
- In addition to cognitive benefits, MedWalk shows improvements in cardiovascular health, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, glucose metabolism, physical fitness, and reduced body weight.
- Previous studies have linked the Mediterranean diet with a reduced risk of dementia, and walking with slower cognitive decline; taking 10,000 steps a day reduces the risk of dementia by 50%.
- Biomarkers associated with neurodegeneration and inflammation in the MedWalk study show favorable changes, indicating reduced neuroinflammatory processes.
- Imaging studies in the MedWalk study reveal that brain volume and connectivity in key cognitive regions are preserved or improved,showing the potential for mental-health and health-and-wellness benefits beyond just cognitive resilience.
