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Major Study Produces Good News in Alzheimer’s Fight 

August 1, 2025

A major clinical trial published in JAMA found that structured lifestyle changes led to greater cognitive improvements than self-guided approaches for older adults at risk of cognitive decline. The study involved 2,111 participants aged 60-79 who were randomly assigned to either a structured program with 38 facilitated meetings or a self-guided program with just six meetings, both focusing on physical activity, nutrition, cognitive stimulation, social interaction, and cardiovascular health. While both groups showed improved brain function over the two-year study period, the structured group demonstrated statistically significant greater improvement in global cognition (0.

Who is affected

  • Older adults aged 60-79 at elevated risk for cognitive decline and dementia
  • Individuals with sedentary behavior, poor diet, cardiometabolic conditions, and family history of memory loss
  • Study participants included 68.9% women and 30.8% racial/ethnic minorities
  • Carriers of the APOE-e4 gene (30% of participants), a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease

What action is being taken

  • Researchers are conducting a major clinical trial across five U.S. clinical sites (from 2019 to 2025)
  • Participants are following either structured or self-guided lifestyle interventions focusing on physical activity, nutrition, cognitive stimulation, social interaction, and cardiovascular health
  • The structured group is attending 38 facilitated meetings over two years with detailed activity plans
  • The self-guided group is attending six meetings and pursuing goals independently without coaching

Why it matters

  • The study demonstrates that lifestyle interventions can improve brain function in at-risk older adults
  • Structured interventions produce statistically significant greater benefits for global cognition compared to self-guided approaches
  • The benefits appear regardless of sex, age, race, cardiovascular health, or APOE-e4 status
  • The findings provide hope against cognitive decline and dementia, conditions that have caused widespread fear
  • Improvements were more pronounced in participants with lower baseline cognitive scores, suggesting potential benefits for those already experiencing some decline

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint