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Mental wellbeing: Adopting Mediterranean diet and active lifestyle could offer protection

Preserving Mental Acuity: The Mediterranean Diet and Regular Exercise Could Offer Protection

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Adopting an active lifestyle and consuming a balanced diet can aid in preserving brain health and...
Adopting an active lifestyle and consuming a balanced diet can aid in preserving brain health and potentially decrease the risk of dementia, according to Kobus Louw's photograph from Getty Images.

MedWalk Study: Mind, Body, and Brain

Mental wellbeing: Adopting Mediterranean diet and active lifestyle could offer protection

In the battle against dementia and cognitive decline, researchers have launched an intriguing new study with a catchy name: "MedWalk Intervention." This research initiative melds the renowned Mediterranean diet with daily walking regimens, aiming to amplify their individual benefits and reduce the risk of cognitive decline in seniors.

Why MedWalk?

Both the Mediterranean diet and walking have displayed a profound impact on cognitive health. However, scientists are eager to uncover the potential synergy of these healthy habits:

  1. Mediterranean diet: Rich in antioxidants, omega-3s, and fiber, the MEDITERRANEAN DIET boosts brain function, combats oxidative stress, and enhances neuroplasticity.
  2. Walking: Regular moderate-intensity walking improves cardiovascular health, boosts cerebral blood flow, and supports brain growth.

By combining these two potent elements, researchers anticipate enhancing their effects and providing seniors with a more potent source of dementia and cognitive decline prevention.

The MedWalk Chronicles

In this endeavor, scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are enlisting the aid of volunteers aged 60 and older. Individuals will be recruited from elderly living communities, with the pandemic driving a broader outreach to the wider community as well. In total, the study aims to enroll 500 participants.

The study design divides participants into four groups:

  1. Mediterranean diet-only group
  2. Walking-only group
  3. MedWalk (combined) group
  4. Control group (receiving typical lifestyle recommendations)

The study will span two years, with the data collection period concluding in 2023.

The MedWalk Experience

Participants in the MedWalk group will receive comprehensive support to help them embrace both the Mediterranean diet and walking program:

  1. Mediterranean diet: Nutritional advice, meal plans, and cooking sessions immersing participants in the key principles of this healthy eating regimen.
  2. Walking: Structured, supervised walking sessions aim to maintain 150 minutes of moderate-intensity walking on a weekly basis.

With intensive support during the first 6 months and ongoing assistance for the next 6, researchers hope to foster long-lasting lifestyle changes.

Shedding Light on the Study's Objectives

Researchers are particularly interested in measuring the MedWalk intervention's efficacy on these aspects:

  1. Visual memory and learning: A key area of focus will gauge the impact on cognitive abilities 12 months after entering the study.
  2. Cardiovascular health and arterial stiffness: Other factors under scrutiny will touch on heart health, mood, quality of life, and associated health costs.

Throughout the study, scientists will monitor a variety of biomarkers related to cognitive health, such as glucose regulation, nutrients, and oxidative stress.

A Healthy dosage of skepticism

Certified nutritional specialist, Conner Middelmann, emphasizes that while promising initial results have emerged in previous studies, a myriad of factors can influence a senior's dementia risk, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health.

In other words, embracing a healthier lifestyle, such as adopting the MEDITERRANEAN DIET, is a crucial but not sole factor in deterrence.

"While these studies suggest a link between the Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of dementia, it's essential to keep in mind that numerous variables can impact dementia risk, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health," Middelmann cautions.

"Therefore, maintaining a balanced diet, such as the MEDITERRANEAN DIET, is merely one element of a broader strategy for brain health and dementia prevention," she adds.

A Stepping Stone Toward a Healthier Brain

Walking regularly has been linked to a slower cognitive decline, according to various research:

  1. A cross-sectional study found that taking 10,000 steps a day slashed the risk of dementia by 50%.
  2. Connecting walking speed with dementia risk, and 2023 investigations underscored that aerobic exercise, like walking, may strengthen cognitive impairment.
  3. Ryan Glatt, a brain health coach at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, notes that walking may offer several brain benefits, including boosting brain blood flow, enhancing brain activity, supporting mood, and reducing stress levels.

These effects combine to highlight the undeniable role that regular walking plays in preserving cognitive function.

The study's data-collection phase will reach completion by the end of 2023. Stay tuned for the revelation of groundbreaking findings in the world of dementia and cognitive decline prevention!

  1. The MedWalk Intervention study, which combines the Mediterranean diet and walking, aims to amplify their individual benefits in seniors, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
  2. By boosting brain function, combating oxidative stress, and enhancing neuroplasticity, the Mediterranean diet is expected to synergize with the benefits of regular moderate-intensity walking.
  3. Researchers anticipate that the MedWalk study, spanning two years and concluding in 2023, will provide seniors with a more potent source of dementia and cognitive decline prevention.
  4. Participants in the MedWalk group will receive comprehensive support for embracing both the Mediterranean diet and walking program, with nutritional advice, meal plans, cooking sessions, and structured, supervised walking sessions.
  5. Researchers are particularly interested in measuring the MedWalk intervention's efficacy on visual memory and learning, cardiovascular health, arterial stiffness, mood, quality of life, and associated health costs.
  6. Certified nutritional specialist, Conner Middelmann, cautions that while previous studies suggest a link between the Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of dementia, several factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and overall health, can influence a senior's dementia risk.
  7. Walking regularly, as suggested by various research, is linked to a slower cognitive decline, potentially boosting brain blood flow, enhancing brain activity, supporting mood, and reducing stress levels.
  8. In 2023, the study's data-collection phase will be completed, bringing groundbreaking findings in the world of dementia and cognitive decline prevention to the forefront, contributing to greater health and wellness, mental health, fitness and exercise, and overall cognitive health.

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