None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Research trials have demonstrated the short-term benefits of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), showing improvements to cholesterol levels, blood pressure and antioxidant levels in the body. Evidence is quite strong that people who follow a MedDiet have improved cardiovascular health, and now we are trying to find out if it might also protect us against dementia and cognitive decline. During 2021 and 2022 we completed a 12-month long study called MedWalk with 74 older Australians. We asked half of them to try the MedDiet, while the other half stayed on their usual diet. Those following the MedDiet were also asked to be active, aiming for 30 minutes of physical activity per day. We were interested in their cognitive function, but also their mental health and wellbeing, their cardiovascular health, fitness and their frailty. While 12 months will tell us about some short-term changes, it is not really long enough to see changes in long-term cognition or dementia diagnoses. So this follow-up study will ask those same 74 people to come in and have some measures taken, to see if they have kept on following the MedDiet, kept up the physical activity, and to see if there is any benefits to their cogntive health 24 months since starting the MedWalk trial (12 months since their final MedWalk visit). We are hoping to see that our participants have maintained some aspects of the MedDiet and their physical activity levels from the study, and we may perhaps see that the control group have also adopted some of these changes since finishing the trial. If we see benefits to cognitive health or in some of the other outcomes, this will be strong promotion for older Australians to adopt a more Mediterranean lifestyle through diet and physical activity.
Interventions
This study is observational.
This research project is a follow-up study of the MedWalk study. We will compare data collected for this research project with that collected in MedWalk, to determine long-term changes between visits in MedWalk and the follow-up study 12 months later. This is essential to answer the aims of this project.
Aim 1: To compare lifestyle measures (Mediterranean diet adherence and moderate to vigorous physical activity level) across MedWalk trial timepoints to one year sinc
This study is observational. This research project is a follow-up study of the MedWalk study. We will compare data collected for this research project with that collected in MedWalk, to determine long-term changes between visits in MedWalk and the follow-up study 12 months later. This is essential to answer the aims of this project. Aim 1: To compare lifestyle measures (Mediterranean diet adherence and moderate to vigorous physical activity level) across MedWalk trial timepoints to one year since completing the MedWalk trial Aim 2: To compare markers of cognitive function at trial timepoints to one year since completing the MedWalk trial Aim 3: To compare anthropometry, blood pressue and pusle wave velocity between trial timepoints to one year since completing the MedWalk trial Aim 4: To investigate changes in quality of life and mood one year since completing the MedWalk trial Aim 5: To collect blood samples for future analysis of lipids, carotenoids and F2-isoprostanes one year since completing the MedWalk trial This study will be conducted as a once-off 12-month follow-up visit. The visits will take place within a 2-week window 12 months after the participants' 12 month visit from MedWalk (Note: MedWalk was originally going to include a 24-month visit, but was shorted to 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The follow-up visits will occur roughly when the planned 24 month visits would have occured). Only participants who have completed at least part of their 12 month visit for MedWalk will be invited to complete the follow-up. Withdrawals from MedWalk will not be invited. The follow-up study will have two levels of involvement. Level 1 is for the participants to complete the MedWalk questionnaire battery and a 4-day weighed food record only. Level 2 will include the above, and a 2-hour fasted clinic visit for other assessments. The commitment for participants completing Level 1 will be approximately 2 hours, including 1 hour to complete the questionnaires and 1 hour to complete the 4-day weighed food record at home. Participants completing Level 2 will involve a 4-hour commitment, including the above as well as attending a 2-hour clinic visit for physical measures and a fasting blood test.
Sponsors
University of South Australia
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
61 Years to 91 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Aged 61-91 years Completed at least part of their MedWalk 12 month visit (South Australian cohort). Willing and able to complete the follow-up study.
Exclusion criteria
Death or severe disability that has occured between completion of the MedWalk study and the follow-up study commencement.
Outcome results
None listed