(P13-066-25) The Self-Reported Assessment of Physical Activity Level and Diet Knowledge of Patients at a Northeast Neurology and EMG Clinic

Objectives: The purpose was to assess the patients’ self-reported physical activity (PA) levels and specific diet knowledge at a Northeast Neurology and EMG clinic. The researchers hypothesized that there would be a relationship between meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity Guidelines and knowledge of the Mediterranean Diet and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet.

Methods: An online survey was administered and sent to all patients who visited the clinic within the last three years at a Northeast Neurology and EMG clinic. The link was sent four times (once a week for four weeks). Out of an estimated 13,000 patients, there were 1776 survey participants (37% male and 63% female). The average participant age was 65.2 years and 61% were married. Thirty-six percent of participants were college graduates and 31% had graduate degrees.

Results: Only 25.5% of respondents reported familiarity with the PA Guidelines, but 29.7% reported meeting the PA Guidelines including cardiorespiratory and resistance training requirements. Also, 63.4% were familiar with the Mediterranean diet, and only 5.8% were familiar with the MIND diet. A chi-square test of independence found a significant relationship between whether participants met the PA Guidelines and their familiarity with the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001, χ² = 11.496, df = 1). Similarly, a significant relationship was found between meeting the PA Guidelines and familiarity with the MIND diet (p = 0.053, χ² = 11.252, df = 1).

Conclusions: Muscle and brain health are essential for longevity and disease prevention. About thirty percent of neurological patients in this study self-reported meeting the PA Guidelines. This is higher than the general population of healthy adults (20%) who meet the PA Guidelines. The Mediterranean and MIND diets are recommended for brain health. We found a significant relationship between the patients who met the PA Guidelines and their familiarity with the Mediterranean and MIND diets. Understanding the relationship between meeting the PA Guidelines and knowledge of these diets will help us create appropriate intervention plans for neurological patients.

Funding Sources: None