How can we support brain health as we age?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-07-29 04:00

International

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A structured, high-intensity lifestyle intervention for older adults may have greater brain benefits than self-guided, lower intensity interventions, according to international researchers. The team recruited more than 2,000 adults aged 60-79 who were cognitively healthy but had lifestyle factors that could increase dementia risk over time. They were split into two groups, which followed programs focusing on physical activity, diet, brain training, social engagement, and heart health. After two years, the team found both groups showed improvements, but the benefits of the structured, high-intensity intervention were greater than the self-guided, low-intensity intervention. An accompanying editorial says the results indicate that relatively modest lifestyle changes can support brain health in ageing populations, but the challenge will be to determine how to implement such programs more widely and effectively, and whether they can be maintained over time.

Media release

From: JAMA

US POINTER Trial: Structured Lifestyle Intervention Delays Cognitive Decline

About The Study: This randomized clinical trial found that among older adults at risk of cognitive decline and dementia, a structured, higher-intensity intervention of regular moderate-to-high-intensity physical exercise, adherence to the MIND diet, cognitive challenge and social engagement, and cardiovascular health monitoring had a statistically significant greater benefit on global cognition compared with an unstructured, self-guided intervention.

Known as the US Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (US POINTER) trial, this study was developed as a follow-up to the landmark 2015 Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) trial, which demonstrated significant cognitive benefit after two years of multidomain intervention in older adults at elevated risk of Alzheimer disease and related dementias. Specifically, the POINTER trial aimed to compare the effects of two multimodal lifestyle interventions on global cognitive function – structured and unstructured – in at least 2,000 at-risk older adults.

Attachments

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Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo lifts.

Editorial / Opinion JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo lifts.

Journal/
conference: JAMA

Research: Link to Paper 1 | Paper 2

Organisation/s: Wake Forest University School of Medicine, USA

Funder: This study was supported by the Alzheimer’s Association (POINTER-19-611541). The US Highbush Blueberry Council provided monthly rebates for participants assigned to the structured intervention. See paper for conflict of interest disclosures.

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