Phyllis Jones starts her day with a workout that takes her around the globe—sometimes even “to the moon,” as she puts it. This newfound passion is largely thanks to her virtual reality headset.
At 66, living in Aurora, Illinois, her emphasis on fitness is a far cry from her past. Just a few years back, she grappled with prediabetes, while her cholesterol and blood pressure levels were on the rise.
She experienced a period of complete inactivity, having sunk into a deep depression. “I was in bed. I didn’t care at all. I was just spiraling,” she recalled.
This lifestyle also threatened her cognitive health.
Her family history was troubling; both her mother and grandmother suffered from vascular dementia, a condition characterized by the brain not receiving enough blood. Other relatives faced similar challenges.
“Seeing two generations struggle made me determined to change my fate,” Jones shared. “I’m not that person anymore.”
Four years ago, she became part of a significant clinical trial known as U.S. POINTER. The goal was to understand how older adults at heightened risk for dementia could enjoy better health for longer.
In the study, over 2,000 participants were split into two groups. One received suggestions for a healthy lifestyle, emphasizing diet and exercise, while the other engaged in a structured program aimed at significant lifestyle changes. This latter group met regularly with experts and peers, participating in brain exercises and aerobics classes. They also followed the MIND diet, which favors whole grains, fruits, and vegetables over processed foods.
Cognitive function was assessed based on metrics like memory, multitasking ability, and reaction time.
After two years, both groups showed improvements, but those in the structured group benefited more substantially.
“Our conservative estimate suggests that participants in the structured group performed at levels typical of adults who are one to two years younger,” explained Laura Baker, the lead researcher and a professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
She noted, “This is what’s boosting resilience against cognitive decline.”
The structured group’s increased support and accountability really made a difference.
“We’ll suggest actions, but we’re also your partners in getting there,” Baker added during a news briefing about the recent findings presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto.
The research, which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is pioneering in showing that organized lifestyle changes can positively affect brain health.
This is particularly timely given projections that the number of individuals with dementia in the U.S. may double by 2060. Currently, approximately 10% of Americans over 65 have a dementia diagnosis, according to the CDC. Almost 7 million individuals in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, the most prevalent form of dementia.
While there are some drugs that might slow the progression of dementia, no cure exists.
Dr. Richard Isaacson, a neurologist from the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, said, “Some people fear there’s nothing that can be done” to prevent dementia.
“We are not powerless against cognitive decline,” he affirmed.
These new findings certainly reinforce that sentiment. Isaacson, who previously led the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical Center, was not part of this research.
This is not the only investigation linking lifestyle changes to dementia delays.
Other studies showcased at the Alzheimer’s Association conference revealed that regular walking can be protective for those genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s.
Rachel Wu, an associate psychology professor focusing on older adult cognition at the University of California, Riverside, commented on the versatility of these lifestyle interventions. “There’s really no downside, except for the time commitment,” she remarked.
The POINTER trial researchers also collected blood samples and conducted brain scans to examine proteins linked to Alzheimer’s, such as amyloid and tau.
Those samples will undergo further analysis in future studies, as noted by Heather Snyder, a researcher involved in POINTER.
“If you have this biology, do you see a better response? Less response?” she posed. “We’ll be able to explore these meaningful questions with this data.” More results are anticipated within the year.
Jones is keen to learn about the findings.
“I don’t know what they discovered in my brain, but I feel like a different person,” she disclosed. She has shed 30 pounds and is no longer classified as prediabetic or in need of statin medications for cholesterol control.
“I plan to keep moving, eating well, socializing, and monitoring my health,” Jones asserted. “I’m committed to taking care of myself.”
