Researchers say they’ve found a “formula and recipe to improve brain health” and cognition in people at high-risk for dementia.
Making even modest lifestyle changes can significantly improve brain health in older adults, a new study finds. (U.S. Pointer Study, Alzheimer's Association).
Researchers compared two different lifestyle interventions on more than 2,000 adults at high risk for cognitive decline and dementia due to a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, cardiometabolic issues and a family history of memory impairment.
After two years, the results showed both interventions improved overall cognition.
Lead investigator Laura D. Baker, PhD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine says, “What we’ve learned is that we now know… from this trial… we now know that healthy behaviors matter for brain health.”
One intervention was highly structured, the other more self-guided, but both focused on exercise, nutrition, cognitive challenges, social engagement and heart health.
While all of the participants experienced increases in overall cognition, the boost was significantly larger in the structured group.
“Compared to the self-guided group, participants in the structured group performed at a level comparable to adults 1-2 years younger,” says Baker.
Phyllis Jones feels lucky to be a part of the structured intervention group.
“I gained a new lease on life. I’m no longer just waiting for life to pass. I gained a control over my health future. I gained the power to break the generational cycle of dementia in my family. And I gained a community and a purpose to give hope to others.”
The Alzheimer’s Association will be investing more than $40 million dollars over the next four years to continue to follow the U.S. Pointer study participants, and to start bringing structured lifestyle intervention programs to communities across the country.
Source: JAMA, AAIC25
Author Affiliations: Wake Forest University School of Medicine,, University of California, Davis,, Alzheimer’s Association, Brigham and Women’s Hospital , Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Baylor College of Medicine. Karolinska Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Imperial College London, Kelsey Research Foundation, Advocate Aurora Health, Rush University Medical Center, University of Southern California, San Diego, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence
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