A Two-Year Lifestyle Program Helped Older Adults Sharpen Their Memory, Landmark Study Finds
As people grow older, many notice that their memory is not as sharp as it used to be. Forgetting names, misplacing keys, or taking longer to learn new information becomes more common with age.
While some changes are a normal part of aging, more serious problems can lead to dementia, a condition that affects memory, thinking, and the ability to carry out everyday activities.
Because there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and most other forms of dementia, scientists have been searching for ways to keep the brain healthy for as long as possible.
One of the biggest questions has been whether healthy daily habits can slow memory decline.
Earlier studies suggested that exercise, healthy eating, mental activities, and social interaction may help, but most large studies were carried out in Europe or North America. Very little research had included older adults from Latin America, even though the region has one of the world’s fastest-growing older populations.
To fill this gap, researchers launched the Latin American Initiative for Lifestyle Intervention to Prevent Cognitive Decline, known as the LatAm-FINGERS trial. The study was published in The Lancet and included 1,065 adults aged 60 to 77 from 11 Latin American countries.
It was the first large brain health trial specially designed for people living in this region, taking local culture, language, and lifestyle into account.
Participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group joined a structured lifestyle program that lasted for two years. They exercised under supervision four times each week, received personal nutrition advice based on the MIND diet, completed computer-based brain training, had regular checks of blood pressure, blood sugar, and body weight, and met with small groups to encourage social activity.
The program was carefully adapted to local communities. Exercise sessions even included popular regional dances such as salsa and tango, while meal plans focused on foods that were affordable and commonly available.
The comparison group received only general health advice during four short meetings over the two-year study.
At the end of the trial, the results clearly favored the structured program. Overall memory and thinking scores improved about 55% more each year than in the comparison group. Memory showed the greatest improvement, while planning skills and processing speed also became better.
The benefits were similar regardless of age, education level, ethnic background, or genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. More than 80% of participants completed the full program, and researchers found no serious health problems related to taking part.
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 Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and cranberries could help boost memory.
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