Latest news with #POINTER
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Structured lifestyle changes sharpen memory, slow brain aging in seniors
In a breakthrough for brain health research, a new study has found that making simple lifestyle changes such as eating healthily, staying physically active, and engaging in social activities can significantly enhance brain function in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. The findings from the U.S. POINTER (Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk) study were shared earlier this week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025 in Toronto, offering new evidence that everyday habits can play a key role in protecting brain health. What is the U.S. POINTER study? The POINTER study is the first large-scale trial in the United States to test whether a combination of lifestyle interventions can reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults. The study tracked participants aged 60 to 79, all of whom were at increased risk for dementia due to factors like high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, or family history. Participants were divided into two groups. Both groups focused on exercise, nutrition, mental and social activities, and monitoring heart health, but differed in how structured the support was. Structured lifestyle group: Participants followed a detailed programme with 38 peer meetings over two years. They had set goals for physical activity, diet, brain training, social engagement, and regular health check-ins with clinicians. Self-guided lifestyle group: Participants had six peer meetings and were encouraged to make their own lifestyle changes with general support, but without specific coaching or targets. After two years, both groups showed improvements in cognitive function. However, participants in the structured lifestyle intervention group had significantly greater improvement in overall cognition, memory, and executive function. This research also aligns with previous studies, such as the FINGER (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability) study, which showed that lifestyle changes can improve brain health in older adults. 'These people are obtaining cognitive function scores that are similar to people one to two years younger than they (participants) are,' said Laura D Baker, one of the study's principal investigators. 'It highlights that while not everyone has the same access or ability to adhere to more intensive behaviour interventions, even modest changes may protect the brain,' she said. 'We designed the interventions to target four aspects of lifestyle: physical activity, diet, cognitive challenge, and health monitoring,' said Jeffrey Katula, who co-chaired the intervention oversight committee for the study. 'Our findings have tremendous implications for older adults: It is never too late to make lifestyle changes that can have a measurable impact on one's brain health,' he added. Why these findings matter As populations age and cases of dementia rise, finding non-pharmaceutical ways to protect brain health is becoming increasingly urgent. 'As the burden of dementia grows worldwide, U.S. POINTER affirms a vital public health message: healthy behaviour has a powerful impact on brain health,' said Joanne Pike, Alzheimer's Association president and CEO. 'This is a critical public health opportunity. The intervention was effective across a broad, representative group- regardless of sex, ethnicity, genetic risk, or heart health status — demonstrating its applicability and scalability for communities across the country. The positive results of U.S. POINTER encourage us to look at the potential for a combination of a lifestyle program and drug treatment as the next frontier in our fight against cognitive decline and possibly dementia,' said Pike. 'Complex diseases like heart disease and cancer use combination treatment strategies tailored to individual characteristics. The next generation of treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's will likely integrate drug and non-drug strategies. U.S. POINTER provides a strong foundation for such combination approaches,' said Heather M Snyder, co-author of the study. What can individuals do? Based on the POINTER study's results, experts suggest some steps for protecting brain health: Follow a brain-friendly diet: A diet rich in leafy greens, berries, nuts, and whole grains is good for overall health. Stay physically active: Engage in moderate activity like brisk walking, swimming, or yoga for at least 150 minutes a week. Stay socially and mentally active: Join clubs, volunteer, or take up hobbies that challenge the brain. Manage existing health conditions: Monitor and control blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol levels. While genetics and age play a role in dementia risk, the study underscores a powerful message: It's never too early or too late to take steps toward better brain health.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
You can slow cognitive decline as you age, large study finds. Here's how
At 62, Phyllis Jones felt trapped in darkness. She was traumatized by her mother's recent death, ongoing pandemic stress and an increasingly toxic work environment. A sudden panic attack led to a medical leave. Her depression worsened until the day her 33-year-old son sadly told her, 'Mom, I didn't think I would have to be your caregiver at this stage in your life.' 'For me, that was the wake-up call,' Jones, now 66, told CNN. 'That's when I found the POINTER study and my life changed. What I accomplished during the study was phenomenal — I'm a new person.' The Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk, or US POINTER study, is the largest randomized clinical trial in the United States designed to examine whether lifestyle interventions can protect cognitive function in older adults. 'These are cognitively healthy people between the ages of 60 and 79 who, to be in the study, had to be completely sedentary and at risk for dementia due to health issues such as prediabetes and borderline high blood pressure,' said principal investigator Laura Baker, a professor of gerontology, geriatrics and internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Approximately one-half of the 2,111 study participants attended 38 structured team meetings over two years in local neighborhoods near Chicago, Houston, Winston-Salem, Sacramento, California, and Providence, Rhode Island. During each session, a trained facilitator provided guidance on how to exercise and eat for the brain, and explained the importance of socialization, the use of brain-training games, and the basics of brain health. The team leader also held the group accountable for logging blood pressure and other vitals. Physical and cognitive exams by a physician occurred every six months. At six team meetings, the other half of the study's participants learned about brain health and were encouraged to select lifestyle changes that best suited their schedules. This group was self-guided, with no goal-directed coaching. These participants also received physical and cognitive exams every six months. The two-year results of the $50 million study, funded by the Alzheimer's Association, were simultaneously presented Monday at the 2025 Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto and published in the journal JAMA. 'We found people in the structured program appeared to delay normal cognitive aging by one to nearly two years over and above the self-guided group — people who did not receive the same degree of support,' Baker said. 'However, the self-guided group improved their cognitive scores over time as well.' Exercise, diet and socializing are key Exercise was the first challenge. Like the other groups across the country, Jones and her Aurora, Illinois, team received YMCA memberships and lessons on how to use the gym equipment. Jones was told to use aerobic exercise to raise her heart rate for 30 minutes a day while adding strength training and stretching several times a week. At first, it wasn't easy. The study participants wore fitness trackers that monitored their activity, Jones said. 'After that first 10 minutes, I was sweating and exhausted,' she said. 'But we went slow, adding 10 minutes at a time, and we kept each other honest. Now I just love to work out.' Four weeks later, teams were given a new challenge — beginning the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, or MIND diet. The diet combines the best of the Mediterranean diet with the salt restrictions of the DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. 'They gave us a refrigerator chart with foods to limit and foods to enjoy,' Jones said. 'We had to eat berries and vegetables most days, including green leafy veggies, which was a separate item. We had to have 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil once every day.' Foods to limit included fried food, processed meat, dairy, cheese and butter. Restrictions were also in place for sugary sweets. 'But we could have dessert four times a week,' Jones added. 'That's awesome because you're not completely depriving yourself.' Another pillar of the program was requiring study participants to familiarize themselves with their vital signs, Wake Forest's Baker said. 'If at any point we asked them, 'What's your average blood pressure?' they should be able to tell us,' she said. 'We encouraged people to monitor their blood sugar as well.' Later came brain training, via memberships to a popular, Web-based cognitive training app. While some scientists say the benefits of such online brain programs have yet to be proven, Jones said she enjoyed the mental stimulation. Becoming better at socializing was another key part of the program. The researchers tasked teams with assignments, such as speaking to strangers or going out with friends. 'I found my best friend, Patty Kelly, on my team,' Jones said. 'At 81, she's older than me, but we do all sorts of things together — in fact, she's coming with me to Toronto when I speak at the Alzheimer's conference. 'Isolation is horrible for your brain,' she added. 'But once you get to a point where you are moving and eating healthy, your energy level changes, and I think you automatically become more social.' As the study progressed, the researchers reduced check-ins to twice a month, then once a month, Baker said. 'We were trying to get people to say, 'I am now a healthy person,' because if you believe that, you start making decisions which agree with the new perception of yourself,' she said. 'So in the beginning, we were holding their hands, but by the end, they were flying on their own,' Baker added. 'And that was the whole idea — get them to fly on their own.' 'Brain health is a long game' Because researchers tracked each team closely, the study has a wealth of data that has yet to be mined. 'On any given day, I could go into our web-based data system and see how much exercise someone's doing, whether they've logged into brain training that day, what's their latest MIND diet score, and whether they'd attended the last team meeting,' Baker said. 'We also have sleep data, blood biomarkers, brain scans and other variables, which will provide more clarity on which parts of the intervention were most successful.' Digging deeper into the data is important, Baker says, because the study has limitations, such as the potential for a well-known phenomenon called the practice effect. 'Even though we use different stimuli within tests, the act of taking a test over and over makes you more familiar with the situation — you know where the clinic is, where to park, you're more comfortable with your examiner,' she said. 'You're not really smarter, you're just more relaxed and comfortable, so therefore you do better on the test,' Baker said. 'So while we're thrilled both groups in US POINTER appear to have improved their global cognition (thinking, learning and problem-solving), we have to be cautious in our interpretations.' It's important to note the POINTER study was not designed to provide the more immersive lifestyle interventions needed for people with early stages of Alzheimer's, said Dr. Dean Ornish, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Ornish published a June 2024 clinical trial that found a strict vegan diet, daily exercise, structured stress reduction and frequent socialization could often stop the decline or even improve cognition in those already experiencing from early-stage Alzheimer's disease, not just for those at risk for it. 'The US POINTER randomized clinical trial is a landmark study showing that moderate lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, socialization and more can improve cognition in those at risk for dementia,' said Ornish, creator of the Ornish diet and lifestyle medicine program and coauthor of 'Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases.' 'It complements our randomized clinical trial findings which found that more intensive multiple lifestyle changes often improve cognition in those already diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease,' Ornish said. 'But the US POINTER study showed that more moderate lifestyle changes may be sufficient to help prevent it.' In reality, two years isn't sufficient to track brain changes over time, said study coauthor Maria Carillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer's Association. 'We really want to make recommendations that are evidence based,' Carillo told CNN. 'That's why we have invested another $40 million in a four-year follow-up, and I believe over 80% of the original participants have joined. 'Brain health is a long game,' she added. 'It's hard to track, but over time, change can be meaningful.'
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Lower your dementia risk with these 2 simple routines — you can even choose how hands-on you want to be
Keep this in mind. Some 22% of adults 65 and older are believed to have trouble with their memory and thinking, also known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Individuals with MCI can perform most everyday activities and generally manage their own care. Advertisement 4 Dementia is a growing problem in the US. While there's no cure, treatments and therapies can help manage symptoms and potentially slow disease progression. Robert Kneschke – An additional 10% of older adults are estimated to have dementia, which is more severe, interfering with daily life and threatening independence. The number of new dementia cases is projected to double by 2060, primarily due to the aging population. Advertisement Now, new Alzheimer's Association research — known as the POINTER study — finds that two special programs can protect against age-related cognitive decline in older adults. 'As the burden of dementia grows worldwide, US POINTER affirms a vital public health message: healthy behavior has a powerful impact on brain health,' said Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Joanne Pike. 4 The two-year POINTER trial evaluated the effectiveness of two 'lifestyle interventions' that emphasized physical activity, nutrition, brain exercises, social engagement and heart health monitoring. – Advertisement Research has suggested that about 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors — alcohol abuse, smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, air pollution, brain injury, physical inactivity, depression, social isolation, hearing loss, lower levels of education, high cholesterol and vision loss. The two-year POINTER trial evaluated the effectiveness of two 'lifestyle interventions' that emphasized physical activity, nutrition, brain exercises, social engagement and heart health monitoring. About 2,100 participants between 60 and 79 years old and at high risk of cognitive decline were split into two groups. With the self-guided lifestyle intervention, participants attended six peer team meetings that encouraged behavioral changes. Advertisement Study staff provided general support but not goal-directed coaching. 4 Here's a look at how the two programs fared in terms of change in cognitive function. Alzheimer's Association The structured lifestyle intervention was more intense, goal-oriented and supportive. Participants attended 38 peer team meetings over two years and received detailed recommendations for aerobic resistance and stretching exercises. They were directed to follow the brain-healthy MIND diet and keep their noggin' engaged with memory, attention and speed exercises. A study clinician often reviewed their health metrics and goals with them. About 89% of participants completed the final two-year assessment. Advertisement Cognitive function scores increased in both groups. The structured lifestyle intervention had better results, protecting the brain for up to two years. The findings were presented Monday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). There's no cure for dementia, but treatments and therapies can help manage symptoms and potentially slow disease progression. 4 The MIND diet emphasizes natural, plant-based foods and not processed foods, saturated fats or red meat. bit24 – Advertisement 'The positive results of US POINTER encourage us to look at the potential for a combination of a lifestyle program and drug treatment as the next frontier in our fight against cognitive decline and possibly dementia,' Pike said. The Alzheimer's Association invested nearly $50 million to lead POINTER, with the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health chipping in for extra research. The Alzheimer's group plans to spend an additional $40 million over the next four years to track POINTER participants and introduce brain-healthy initiatives across America. 'While not everyone has the same access or ability to adhere to more intensive behavior interventions, even modest changes may protect the brain,' said Laura D. Baker, POINTER principal investigator and Wake Forest University School of Medicine professor.
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
FROM THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2025: U.S. POINTER STUDY SHOWS STRUCTURED LIFESTYLE PROGRAM TARGETING MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS IMPROVES COGNITION IN OLDER ADULTS AT RISK OF COGNITIVE DECLINE
Key Takeaways Two lifestyle interventions in U.S. POINTER improved cognition in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. A structured intervention with more support and accountability showed greater improvement compared to a self-guided intervention. In a large, representative group of older adults at high risk for cognitive decline, multidomain lifestyle interventions were delivered with high adherence and safety. Cognitive benefits were consistent across age, sex, ethnicity, heart health status and apolipoprotein E-e4 genotype. TORONTO, July 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Alzheimer's Association U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) — a two-year, multi-site clinical trial testing two different lifestyle interventions in a representative population of older adults at risk for cognitive decline and dementia — found that both interventions improved cognition in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Trial participants in the structured (STR) intervention showed greater improvement on global cognition compared to the self-guided (SG) intervention, protecting cognition from normal age-related decline for up to two years. The STR intervention differed from the SG intervention in intensity, structure, accountability and support provided. The results were reported for the first time today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025 in Toronto and online. "Effects Of Structured vs Self-Guided Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions for Global Cognitive Function: The U.S. POINTER Randomized Clinical Trial," was published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) simultaneously with the report at AAIC 2025. U.S. POINTER is the first large-scale, randomized controlled clinical trial to demonstrate that an accessible and sustainable healthy lifestyle intervention can protect cognitive function in diverse populations in communities across the United States. "As the burden of dementia grows world-wide, U.S. POINTER affirms a vital public health message: healthy behavior has a powerful impact on brain health," said Joanne Pike, DrPH, Alzheimer's Association president and CEO. "This is a critical public health opportunity. The intervention was effective across a broad, representative group — regardless of sex, ethnicity, APOE genetic risk, or heart health status — demonstrating its applicability and scalability for communities across the country," said Pike. "The positive results of U.S. POINTER encourage us to look at the potential for a combination of a lifestyle program and drug treatment as the next frontier in our fight against cognitive decline and possibly dementia." U.S. POINTER leadership acknowledges participants, their family members and study site staff for their unique and essential contributions: "You helped change what we know about brain health. Thanks to your dedication, time and support, U.S. POINTER delivered groundbreaking results. Your children, grandchildren and generations to come will benefit from the commitment you made." Both interventions focused on physical exercise, nutrition, cognitive challenge and social engagement, and heart health monitoring, but differed in intensity, structure, accountability and support provided. Structured lifestyle intervention. Participants attended 38 facilitated peer team meetings over two years, and were provided with a prescribed activity program with measurable goals for: aerobic, resistance and stretching exercise; adherence to the MIND diet; cognitive challenge through BrainHQ training and other intellectual and social activities; and regular review of health metrics and goal-setting with a study clinician. Self-guided lifestyle intervention. Participants attended six peer team meetings to encourage self-selected lifestyle changes that best fit their needs and schedules. Study staff provided general encouragement without goal-directed coaching. "The potential to improve cognition with fewer resources and lower participant burden is compelling. It highlights that while not everyone has the same access or ability to adhere to more intensive behavior interventions, even modest changes may protect the brain," said Laura D. Baker, Ph.D., Professor of Gerontology and Geriatrics, and Internal Medicine, at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Advocate Health, and U.S. POINTER principal investigator. "These are the initial results. Over the coming weeks and months, study leadership will be exploring all of the data collected in the trial to paint an even more comprehensive picture of the U.S. POINTER intervention effects on brain health," Baker said. People with cognitive decline and dementia often have a variety of damaging changes in their brain. This means effective treatment will likely require a multi-pronged or combination strategy to address multiple disease mechanisms. "Complex diseases like heart disease and cancer use combination treatment strategies tailored to individual characteristics. The next generation of treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's will likely integrate drug and non-drug strategies. U.S. POINTER provides a strong foundation for such combination approaches," said Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association study primary investigator and senior vice president of medical and scientific relations. "While these results are fascinating and extremely hopeful, how they are rolled out to the public — especially those at risk for Alzheimer's and other diseases that cause dementia — needs to be handled with care and individual attention to tailor to the local environment," said Snyder. The Alzheimer's Association has invested nearly $50 million to lead this study to date, with additional support from the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health for add-on studies exploring imaging, vascular measures, sleep and gut microbiome-related health data. In addition to its investments to date, the Alzheimer's Association will invest more than $40 million over the next four years to continue to follow U.S. POINTER participants, and to bring U.S. POINTER interventions to communities across America. U.S. POINTER is a phase 3, five-site, two-year, single-blind randomized clinical trial of two lifestyle interventions in older adults at risk for dementia. U.S. POINTER was developed to assess whether the results of the FINGER study [ Lancet, 6-6-15] generalize to a larger, more diverse U.S. population at risk for cognitive decline and dementia, using culturally adapted protocols. The primary aim was to compare the effects of two multimodal lifestyle interventions on global cognitive function in 2,000+ at-risk older adults. Secondary aims assessed intervention effects on specific cognitive domains, and potential differences based on baseline cognition, sex, age, APOE-e4 genotype, and cardiovascular risk. The study was conducted at five geographically dispersed U.S. academic centers and health care systems in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association. Participant eligibility criteria were designed to enrich the risk of cognitive decline and included older age (60-79 years), sedentary lifestyle, suboptimal diet and cardiometabolic health, and family history of memory impairment. 2,111 participants were enrolled and randomized to STR (n=1,056) or SG (n=1,055). Mean age was 68.2 years, 68.9% were female, 30.8% were from ethnoracial minority groups. Seventy-eight percent (78%) reported a first-degree family history of memory loss, and 30% were APOE-e4 carriers. Retention was high, with 89% completing the final 2 year assessment. At two years, there was a statistically significant intervention group difference on the primary outcome. Global cognitive composite scores (primary outcome) increased over time in both groups but the improvement over time was statistically significant for a greater benefit for the STR versus SG: 0.029 SD per year (95% CI, 0.008-0.050, P =0.008). For secondary outcomes, the increase in executive function z-score was greater in STR than SG by 0.037 SD per year (95% CI, 0.010-0.064). Processing speed showed a similar trend but was not statistically significant. There were no group differences in memory. Looking ahead, the Association will build on the momentum of U.S. POINTER by launching several programs and initiatives, including: A personal brain health assessment tool. A virtual brain health training program for health care providers. A community recognition program for organizations championing brain health. A brain health roundtable that will unite leaders across health care, public health, community and corporate sectors to accelerate impact. About AAIC AAIC is the world's largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's and other diseases that cause dementia. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community. AAIC 2025: AAIC 2025 newsroom: AAIC 2025 hashtag: #AAIC25 About the Alzheimer's Association The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit or call +1 800.272.3900.
