Groundbreaking Alzheimer’s study findings unveiled
Alzheimer’s Prevention: Lifestyle Changes Show Promise in 2‑Year Trial
Key Findings from the Largest Randomized Study
- Structured program – monthly coaching, BrainHQ brain training, aerobic and strength exercise, and brain‑healthy diet.
- Unstructured group – quarterly meetings, general encouragement to stay active.
- After two years, the structured group increased cognitive function by half a standard deviation, moving a typical participant from the 50th to nearly the 70th percentile.
- The unstructured group also improved, but gains were significantly smaller.
Trial Design and Population
- 2,111 participants aged 60‑79 at elevated risk due to medical history and family background.
- Randomized into coached lifestyle intervention or health education control.
- Intervention period: two years.
Components of the Structured Intervention
- BrainHQ online training – 15‑20 minutes, three times weekly.
- Physical exercise – 10‑35 minutes, eight times weekly (aerobic, flexibility, resistance).
- Brain‑healthy diet – emphasis on greens, whole grains, weekly fish, healthier snacks.
- Monthly coaching sessions to guide adherence.
Context within Global Research
- Part of the worldwide FINGER effort; based on the 2015 Finnish FINGER study.
- Japan’s J‑MINT PRIME Tamba study used BrainHQ Japanese version and reported a 41% gain in global cognition.
- Consistent with other isolated work showing lifestyle interventions can reduce cognitive decline risk.
Expert Commentary
Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science states: “Adopting a structured set of brain‑healthy activities – brain training with BrainHQ, better nutrition, and regular exercise – can substantially improve cognitive function and avert inevitable decline.”
Publication Details
- Journal: The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
- Article Title: “Structured vs Self‑Guided Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions for Global Cognitive Function: The US POINTER Randomized Clinical Trial.”
- Funding: Alzheimer’s Association.
