Significantly greater benefit on global cognition seen for structured versus self-guided intervention over two years<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/p>\n
WEDNESDAY, July 30, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Lifestyle interventions improve cognition for older adults at risk for cognitive decline and dementia, with significant benefit seen for a structured intervention, according to a study published online July 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association<\/em> to coincide with the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, held from July 27 to 31 in Toronto.<\/p>\n Laura D. Baker, Ph.D., from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and colleagues compared the effects of two two-year lifestyle interventions on the cognitive trajectory in older adults (aged 60 to 79 years) at risk for cognitive decline and dementia. A total of 2,111 participants were randomly assigned to structured or self-guided interventions (1,056 and 1,055 individuals, respectively). The structured arm included frequent peer team meetings, regular exercise, the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, BrainHQ cognitive training, social\/cognitive challenge, and monthly blood pressure monitoring, while the self-guided arm included fewer peer team meetings and general health education. <\/p>\n The researchers found that in both groups, the mean global cognitive composite z score increased from baseline over time, with a mean rate of increase per year of 0.243 and 0.213 standard deviations (SDs) for the structured and self-guided interventions, respectively. The mean rate of increase per year was significantly greater for the structured group by 0.029 SD. The structured intervention benefit was consistent for APOE<\/em> \u03b54 carriers and noncarriers but seemed greater for adults with lower versus higher baseline cognition. The structured group had fewer ascertained adverse events compared with the self-guided group.<\/p>\n “The potential to improve cognition with fewer resources and lower participant burden is compelling,” Baker said in a statement. “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.”<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical and nutrition industries.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n