Many people worry about losing their memory as they get older. Although age is the biggest risk factor for dementia, researchers now believe that everyday habits may influence how well the brain ages.
Staying physically active, eating nutritious foods, challenging the mind, and maintaining social connections have all been linked to better brain health. A new international study provides fresh evidence that combining these healthy habits into one program can make a real difference.
The research comes from the LatAm-FINGERS clinical trial and was published in The Lancet. It involved 1,065 adults between 60 and 77 years of age from 11 countries across Latin America.
This was an important milestone because older adults from this region have rarely been included in large dementia-prevention studies.
Researchers designed a program that matched local cultures instead of copying plans developed elsewhere. Participants in the intensive program exercised four times each week with trained instructors. Some exercise sessions included traditional dances such as salsa and tango.
They also received individual nutrition advice based on the brain-friendly MIND diet using foods that people could easily buy in their own communities. In addition, participants completed computer brain exercises, attended regular health checks, and joined small group meetings to stay socially active.
Another group continued with their usual lives and only attended four educational sessions over two years where they received general advice about healthy living.
After two years, people in the intensive lifestyle program performed much better on tests of memory and thinking. Their overall improvement was about 55% greater per year than the comparison group.
Memory improved the most, but the researchers also found better planning ability and faster mental processing. The positive results were seen in people with different educational backgrounds, ethnic groups, and even among those carrying genes that increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Importantly, the program appeared to be safe, with no serious health problems linked to participation and a high completion rate.
The researchers point out that the study did not prove the program prevents dementia because participants were tested mainly on thinking and memory rather than waiting many years to see who developed the disease.
However, stronger cognitive performance is considered an encouraging sign that the brain is functioning better. The findings also suggest that healthy lifestyle programs can be successfully adapted for different cultures around the world rather than following a single approach for every country.
Study review and analysis: This was a strong clinical trial because it included more than 1,000 older adults from 11 countries and followed them for two years. The researchers tested several healthy lifestyle changes together, making the program similar to what people could do in real life.
A limitation is that the study measured improvements in memory and thinking tests rather than whether the participants actually developed dementia later. Longer follow-up will be needed to answer that question.
Even so, the findings provide encouraging evidence that regular exercise, a healthy diet, brain training, social activities, and good control of health conditions may help older adults keep their brains healthier as they age.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about dietary strategies to ward off dementia, and how omega-3 fatty acids fuel your mind.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Choline deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and what to eat (and avoid) for dementia prevention.
Source: The Lancet / LatAm-FINGERS study.
