Latest news with #U.S.POINTER
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
Can Just Two Years Of Lifestyle Changes Really Boost Brain Power?
A new study shows that combining exercise, healthy diet improves brain power. Simpler lifestyle changes like moving more and eating better are linked to better brain health. Imagine if the key to protecting your memory wasn't locked in a lab, but in your daily life, in morning walks, shared meals, laughter with friends, and a puzzle before bed. A major U.S. trial suggests these simple habits could help keep your brain sharp well into old age. A major U.S. clinical trial has found that a mix of physical activity, healthy eating, social engagement, and brain exercises can improve cognitive function in older adults who are at risk of dementia. The study, called the U.S. POINTER trial is the largest of its kind in the United States to examine how lifestyle interventions can support brain health. Its findings, first reported by The Washington Post and published in JAMA, were also presented this week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto. Why This Study Matters Globally, dementia cases are on the rise. The 2024 Lancet Commission report estimates that around 45% of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing 'modifiable risk factors" – things like poor diet, lack of exercise, or unmanaged cardiovascular health. 'If you can modify these and improve them, then it makes sense that you will improve your brain health and you might prevent dementia," said Kristine Yaffe, professor and vice chair of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, speaking to The Washington Post. The trial offers what researchers call 'a new recipe" for improving cognitive function and a real-world model for rolling it out to communities. The Design: From Finland to the U.S. The U.S. POINTER trial was modeled on a 2015 Finnish study that tested a similar approach. The goal was to see whether the benefits could be replicated in a larger, more diverse U.S. population. Over 2,100 participants aged 60 to 79 took part, spread across five sites in the U.S. All were considered healthy but at elevated risk for cognitive decline due to factors like sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, or cardiovascular risk. Importantly, 31% of participants came from ethnic or minority groups, and 78% had a family history of memory impairment, two groups historically underrepresented in dementia trials. Two Different Approaches Participants were randomly assigned to one of two lifestyle intervention groups: Structured Program (High-Intensity) Four days of aerobic exercise each week Two days of resistance training Two days of stretching and balance exercises Adherence to the MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) Web-based cognitive training three times a week 38 group meetings over two years Biannual health coaching and regular check-ins to monitor diet and cardiovascular health Self-Guided Program (Lower-Intensity) General education on diet, exercise, and brain health Encouraged to make their own lifestyle changes Six group meetings over two years No strict exercise or diet schedules, but peer discussions to share progress The Results: Improvement in Both Groups After two years, both groups showed cognitive improvements. The structured program group outperformed the self-guided group in executive function skills like planning, decision-making, and self-control. 'It was surprising to see such significant cognitive improvement within the self-guided group compared to their initial cognitive scores," said Klodian Dhana, associate professor at Rush University Medical Center, who was not involved in the trial. 'However, this suggests that lifestyle interventions, even when based solely on educational information, can be beneficial," he told The Washington Post. The gains in memory and processing speed were similar between the groups, suggesting the benefits may be linked more to vascular health than to preventing Alzheimer's-specific damage. Human Stories Behind the Data For 66-year-old Phyllis Jones from Aurora, Illinois, joining the structured program was life-changing. Her mother and grandmother had dementia, and she had been neglecting her health after losing her long-time job. 'I was circling the drain, and I felt it," Jones said. Starting with just 10 minutes of exercise a day, she gradually built up her stamina. Today, she has lost 30 pounds and starts each morning with virtual reality workouts before tending to her pets. In the self-guided group, 72-year-old Peter Gijsbers van Wijk from Houston said the program motivated him to walk five miles a day and take up yoga. He also began volunteering to increase his social engagement. Why Both Groups Improved One limitation of the trial is that there was no control group without any intervention. That makes it harder to tell how much of the improvement came from lifestyle changes versus the 'practice effect" participants simply getting better at cognitive tests over time. Still, the findings suggest that even basic education and peer engagement can encourage healthier habits, which may benefit brain function. The Ingredients of Brain Health The trial focused on five key areas: Physical Activity – Regular aerobic and strength training supports blood flow to the brain and overall cardiovascular health. Healthy Diet – The MIND diet emphasises vegetables, berries, nuts, and whole grains while limiting red meat and sweets. Cognitive Training – Challenging the brain with puzzles, games, or learning new skills can strengthen neural connections. Social Engagement – Interaction with others has been shown to lower dementia risk and improve mood. Vascular Health – Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar supports long-term brain function. The Road Ahead While the difference between the structured and self-guided groups was modest, researchers say the trial proves that community-based lifestyle programs can be effective. The Alzheimer's Association, which provided $50 million to fund the study, is now working with partners to bring the structured program to communities across the U.S. 'Not later, but now," said lead investigator Laura Baker of Wake Forest University. Researchers will also follow participants for another four years, tracking biomarkers and brain imaging to see if the improvements translate into a lower risk of dementia. Takeaways for Your Brain Health Even without joining a trial, experts recommend: As Heather Snyder of the Alzheimer's Association told The Washington Post, dementia prevention will likely require 'a multitude of solutions," but lifestyle changes are one proven piece of the puzzle. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. 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Toronto Sun
01-08-2025
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Want to keep your brain sharp as you age? Science may have a recipe.
Published Aug 01, 2025 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 6 minute read Photo by Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. A mix of exercise, a healthy diet, social engagement and brain games could improve cognitive capabilities in older adults at risk of cognitive decline or dementia, a clinical trial has found. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The study, known as U.S. POINTER, is the largest trial to examine how healthy lifestyle behaviours can improve brain health. Its results were published in JAMA and presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Monday in Toronto. About 45 percent of dementia cases may be preventable by addressing modifiable risk factors, according to the 2024 Lancet Commission report on dementia prevention. 'If you can modify these and improve them, then it makes sense that you will improve your brain health and you might prevent dementia,' said Kristine Yaffe, a professor and the vice chair of the department of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco. The study, which was modeled on a 2015 randomized control trial in Finland, was designed to see how cognitive benefits of structured lifestyle changes could generalize to a larger, more diverse population of Americans. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The trial provides 'a new recipe' to improve cognitive function and shows healthy behaviours matter for brain health, said Laura Baker, a professor of internal medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the principal investigator of the study. Helping those most at risk The POINTER trial involved 2,111 adults, ages 60 to 79, across five locations, who were healthy but at risk for cognitive decline and dementia, because of lifestyle factors, including a poor diet, lack of regular exercise or cardiovascular risk. Crucially, the researchers recruited underrepresented groups that are known to be at high risk for dementia; 31 percent of participants were from ethnic or minority groups, and 78 percent had a family history of memory impairment. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We really wanted to make sure we had representation from many different microcultures across the U.S.,' which is not something clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease has done a good job at, Baker said. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two lifestyle intervention groups: one with a structured program and another with a self-guided program. Both groups focused on physical activity, diet, cognitive training, social engagement and vascular health over the course of the two-year study. Participants in the self-guided group received general education on health, diet and exercise and were encouraged to make the lifestyle changes that they thought best suited their needs. They also met six times with facilitators and other group participants in their communities for discussions on what they are learning. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In contrast, the structured group had a far more intensive and demanding regime. -Physical health: Each week, participants had four days of aerobic exercise, two days of resistance training and two days of stretching and balance exercises. -Diet: They were encouraged to adhere to the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, which is designed to promote healthy brain aging. -Cognitive training: Participants engaged with a web-based cognitive training program three times a week. In addition, the structured group met 38 times with facilitators and fellow participants, received biannual health coaching from a medical adviser, as well as phone calls and clinic visits to assess diet and cardiometabolic health. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Having participants meet their peers offers a social component for support that is 'a key ingredient in the intervention,' Baker said. RECOMMENDED VIDEO With the structured intervention, 'we're going to tell you what to do, but we're going to help you get there. And we're going to work with you as a partner to meet you where you are,' Baker said at a news briefing. Both groups showed cognitive improvements throughout the two years of the trial. But participants in the structured lifestyle group did better than people in the self-guided group. 'It was surprising to see such significant cognitive improvement within the self-guided group compared to their initial cognitive scores,' said Klodian Dhana, an associate professor of internal medicine at Rush University Medical Center in an email. 'However, this suggests that lifestyle interventions, even when based solely on educational information, can be beneficial,' said Dhana, who was not involved in the study. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For many study participants – over 90 percent stuck through the two-year trial – the experience was motivating and life-changing. Phyllis Jones, 66, of Aurora, Illinois, said she is 'forever changed' by the experience as a participant in the structured group. Her mother and grandmother had dementia, but she had been neglecting her health amid a layoff from her 28-year-long software engineering job. 'I was circling the drain, and I felt it,' she said at a news briefing. The researchers started Jones and her fellow participants off slow, with just 10 minutes of exercise a day. But 'after all those years of being sedentary, 10 minutes was a good start and that got me going,' Jones said. 'Since they took it slow, it made it so that we didn't get discouraged. We didn't hurt ourselves.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Since then, she has lost 30 pounds, Jones said. Now, she wakes up to do virtual reality workouts in her pajamas each morning before work and feeding her two dogs and two cats. Peter Gijsbers van Wijk, 72, of Houston, a participant in the self-guided group, said meeting with other participants and facilitators helped keep him motivated to work toward his health goals of getting more physical activity. His mother and two aunts had dementia. After the trial, van Wijk is continuing his exercise with yoga and walking five miles a day, at least five days a week. He has also started volunteering in his community to get more social contact and to give back. 'The most important thing is try out a little bit and see what you enjoy, because if you enjoy it, then you will be able to sustain,' van Wijk said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While the study findings are 'very important' the longer-term effects on cognition remain unknown, Dhana said. However, because there was no group that did not receive a lifestyle intervention, it is difficult to interpret why both self-guided and structured groups had cognitive improvements. On the one hand, it could be a sign that even just education about healthy behaviors could improve cognition. But it could also be the result of a 'practice effect' where participants improve on assessments simply because they are doing them more, said Yaffe, who was not involved in the study. (The study researchers said they felt an ethical responsibility to provide something beneficial for all participants.) This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The difference in cognitive improvement between the two groups was also 'pretty modest,' Yaffe said. Participants in the structured group performed better in executive function than those in the self-guided group, but there were no major differences in memory or mental processing speed. This suggests 'more of a vascular pathway and less of Alzheimer's,' the hallmark of which is memory impairment, Yaffe said. Because the study incorporated multiple types of lifestyle changes, it's not possible to pinpoint what is most effective for different people. Any disease that causes cognitive impairment and dementia will probably require 'a multitude of solutions,' including behavioural interventions combined with medications, said Heather Snyder, a study author and the senior vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer's Association, which provided $50 million to fund the study. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The researchers are now analyzing biomarkers and neuroimaging data from the participants, who are being followed for an additional four years to see how these interventions impact their cognitive health in the longer run. At the same time, the researchers are working with partners to roll out the structured lifestyle interventions into the community 'not later, but now,' Baker said. How to improve your cognitive health 'To improve brain health, it's important to adopt multiple lifestyle changes,' Dhana said. There are many different ways to reduce your risk for dementia. – Move more, sit less. Sitting all day increases dementia risk, while exercising regularly can keep your brain sharp. – Eat a healthier diet. You can try the MIND diet, which calls for more vegetables, berries and nuts, and limits on red and processed meats and sweets. Processed meats are linked to higher rates of dementia and worse cognition, while replacing them with nuts and legumes is associated with lower dementia risk, research shows. – Stay connected. Feelings of loneliness can increase the risk for dementia, while having strong social connections are a key to cognitive health. – Challenge yourself intellectually. Find ways of 'stretching and using your brain, your memory, your cognition in different ways that's different for you and that's pushing the envelope for you,' Snyder said. For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to – a member of the Postmedia Network. Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA World Editorials Tennis
Korea Herald
31-07-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
RESEARCH ADVANCES FROM THE 2025 ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
TORONTO, July 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New research results reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference ® 2025 (AAIC ®) advanced scientific understanding of risk, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Highlights include: AAIC is the premier annual conference for presentation and discussion of the latest Alzheimer's and dementia research. This year's conference in Toronto attracted nearly 19,000 registered attendees and included more than 6,400 scientific submissions. Positive Results from the U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) Study 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 intervention showed greater improvement on global cognition compared to the self-guided intervention, helping to protect against normal age-related decline for up to two years. This means that, relative to the self-guided group, participants in the structured group performed at a level comparable to adults one to nearly two years younger in age — an effect that likely increases resilience against cognitive decline. This extra benefit was similar across all subgroups of U.S. POINTER participants — regardless of sex, ethnicity, genetic risk or heart health (blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels). More than 30% of participants were from groups that have been historically underrepresented in dementia research. Both interventions focused on increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, cognitive and social challenge, and health monitoring. The structured intervention differed from the self-guided intervention in intensity, structure, accountability and the support provided. U.S. POINTER was a large-scale, rigorous, randomized controlled clinical trial. These positive results underscore the message that healthy behavior has a powerful impact on brain health, and encourage us to look at the potential for a combination of a lifestyle program and drug treatment as the next frontier in the fight against cognitive decline and possibly dementia. First Clinical Practice Guideline For Blood Biomarker Tests in Alzheimer's Diagnosis The Alzheimer's Association released its first evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) on the use of blood-based biomarker (BBM) tests at AAIC 2025, a big step toward transforming Alzheimer's diagnosis and management in specialty care settings. The CPG provides rigorous, evidence-based recommendations to help specialist clinicians to use BBM tests more confidently and consistently. The recommendations are aimed at a variety of specialists in settings like neurology, psychiatry, geriatrics and more who diagnose and evaluate cognitive impairment, and are based on a review of available evidence through November 2024. The recommendations suggest that specialists can use BBM tests as a triaging tool in the diagnostic workup of Alzheimer's when they have at least 90% sensitivity and 75% specificity, but a positive triaging test should always be confirmed with more traditional tests like cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) or amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The guidelines permit BBM tests with at least 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity to substitute for PET imaging or CSF testing. However, experts caution that many commercially available BBM tests do not yet meet these thresholds. This CPG is part of ALZPro ™ from the Alzheimer's Association, the comprehensive hub of resources and tools for health care professionals and researchers from across disciplines to reduce risk, advance early detection, improve care and expand equitable access for all communities. Combination of Heart-Health Drugs May Also Protect the Brain Taking a combination of common drugs used to treat blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes may have an added benefit: slower cognitive decline. A study of more than 4,500 older adults showed cognitive test scores similar to people three years younger for participants who took a combination of drugs targeting vascular or metabolic conditions, all of which are known risk factors for dementia. Participants who were on all three of the vascular drugs had the greatest cognitive benefits, and their brains showed fewer signs of Alzheimer's-related changes at autopsy. For those who took only two of the drugs, the most effective pairing for cognitive protection was blood pressure and cholesterol drugs. Lead Pollution Linked to Memory Problems in Older Adults Historic pollution levels from the era of leaded gasoline may be contributing to cognitive issues 50 years later, according to a first-of-its-kind research study. Researchers tracked how exposure to airborne lead from 1960-1974 — when leaded gasoline use was at its highest — impacted brain health later in life. The report estimated that half the U.S. population at that time, more than 170 million people, were exposed to high lead levels in early childhood. The researchers linked the pollution data from the 60s and 70s to a contemporary study conducted between 2012 and 2017. They estimated that 17 to 22% of people living in areas with moderate or high atmospheric lead reported memory issues. While leaded gas has long been phased out, other sources of exposure remain, such as old lead paint, pipes and industrial pollution. Experts say people who had past lead exposure should focus on reducing other risk factors for dementia, including managing high blood pressure, quitting smoking and avoiding social isolation. Lifestyle Change Benefits May Be Strongest for Carriers of Alzheimer's Risk Gene People with a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease may benefit the most from healthy lifestyle interventions like walking, according to a decade of data from three large international studies. Older adults who carry the Alzheimer's risk gene known as APOE4 had higher cognitive benefits from non-drug interventions like exercise, diet and cognitive training than non-carriers. In this study, walking was found to be the most effective healthy habit for slowing down cognitive damage. Like many healthy lifestyle changes, the key was making it a habit, as the study showed that sticking with it for at least two years produced cognitive benefits up to seven years later. Participants in SNAP Food Assistance Program Had Slower Cognitive Decline People who participated in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) had slower cognitive decline over 10 years than non-participants, according to new research reported at AAIC 2025. Scientists examined data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study to compare participants in SNAP, which helps low-income individuals and families buy food, to those who were eligible for the program but didn't participate. They found that SNAP participants had a 0.10% slower decline in overall cognitive function. The difference is significant in the long-term, adding up to an estimated two to three additional years of cognitive health over the study's 10-year period. The study group of 1,131 SNAP participants studied included Whites, Blacks and Hispanics. A control group included 1,216 people who were SNAP-eligible but didn't participate. Researchers found that all groups benefitted, but White participants showed much slower decline than other groups. The findings highlight the potential benefits of food assistance programs to support older adults' cognitive health. Real-World Results for New Alzheimer's Drugs Show Effectiveness, Patient Satisfaction While newly available anti-amyloid Alzheimer's disease drugs have shown effectiveness in tightly controlled clinical trials, they have not been tested in real-world settings until now. Dozens of abstracts reported at AAIC 2025 showed that real world experience with the drugs lecanemab and donanemab produced comparable or better safety to large clinical trials, and patients were satisfied with the results. Researchers tracked the drugs' safety and effectiveness in patients from a variety of settings including U.S. clinics, memory care centers and international universities. Several of the sites are part of the Alzheimer's Network for Treatment and Diagnostics (ALZ-NET), which was created by the Alzheimer's Association to collect voluntary real-world data about patients receiving the new treatments, track their long-term health, and share data with scientists and clinicians. New Insights Into Cognitive Health Differences Between Men and Women New research announced at AAIC 2025 sheds light on crucial differences between men and women in risk for Alzheimer's and other diseases that cause dementia. One study found that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs, a well-known risk factor for dementia) were more likely to shrink dementia-related areas of the brain in women than men. Another looked closer at "chemobrain" — declines in thinking and memory reported by about one-third of women receiving breast cancer chemotherapy. Women make up nearly two-thirds of the more than 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's. The chemobrain study is the first to show that brain changes, inflammation and shrinkage related to the cancer treatment are connected to symptoms like memory lapses and trouble focusing or finding words. The study adds to growing evidence that chemotherapy impacts brain health. The Alzheimer's Association supports research to better understand sex-based differences in cognitive health and prevent negative side effects for chemo patients. Clinicians can learn more about early detection, diagnosis and treatment of dementia using ALZPro, the newly-launched library of online tools and resources for professionals from the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association extends a thank you to the AAIC 2025 Platinum Sponsors: Biogen, Eisai, Lilly and Novo Nordisk. About the Alzheimer's Association International Conference ® (AAIC ®) The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world's largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's and other dementias. 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 home page: 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 800.272.3900.
Medical News Today
29-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Lifestyle changes in 4 areas may improve brain health, major US study finds
A program of exercise, nutrition, cognitive and social challenges, and health coaching resulted in improved cognition scores for people at risk of Alzheimer's disease and related two-year trial involved lifestyle changes only, without added participants followed the program self-guided, but those receiving the program in a structured format improved more, though all participants' cognitive scores improved.A low-cost, non-pharmaceutical lifestyle program that targeted risk factors for dementia improved the cognitive health of older at-risk adults in a major new U.S. POINTER trial was a multidimensional program involving exercise, diet, regular cognitive challenges, social engagement, and health trial involved 2,111 older people considered at risk of dementia. It compared a structured intervention program to a lower-intensity, self-guided, but similar, in the structured program exhibited significantly greater improvement in composite cognitive scores than the self-guided group after a two-year trial scores for both groups U.S. POINTER trial is a follow-up to the 2015 Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) trial. The earlier trial observed meaningful cognitive benefits resulting from a multi-domain intervention in older adults at elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).Bridget Stratton of the Alzheimer's Association told Medical News Today, 'U.S. POINTER is important because it was designed as a rigorous, randomized controlled clinical trial to demonstrate whether an accessible and sustainable lifestyle intervention protects cognitive function in diverse populations in communities across the United States.''More than 30% of participants were from groups that have been historically underrepresented in dementia research,' Stratton results of the U.S. POINTER study are published in JAMA.A structured program works bestFor the structured arm of the U.S. POINTER trial, there were 38 facilitated peer team meetings over two years, with education, goal-setting, and accountability that promoted adherence to the trial's recommended behavioral aligns with what John Enwere, founder of Caringene, a Seattle-based home care company for older people, who was not involved in the study, has seen. 'I've seen clients thrive when a family member or caregiver is both engaging and thoroughly executes their personal care plan,' he told Medical News the self-guided arm, there were just six facilitated peer team meetings over two years. Participants were provided educational materials, tools to help track adherence to health plans, and general support that encouraged physical activity, a healthy diet, and cognitive and social stimulation.'The extra benefit [of a structured program] was observed regardless of sex, ethnicity, genetic risk (apolipoprotein-e4 genotype) or cardiometabolic health (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels),' Stratton Arnold, MD, founder of Clava Health, who was not involved in the study, noted to MNT that the self-directed group 'crucially lacked the dedicated coaching team and physician follow-up afforded to the structured intervention group.''This vital distinction,' he added, 'underscores how absolutely necessary a team-based approach is for the comprehensive care of patients at risk of, or in the early stages of, cognitive impairment.''POINTER's results affirm that structure and coaching are not just nice to have, they are necessary,' Enwere POINTER trial's four interventionsThe U.S. POINTER trial's structured arm involved four types of exercise — including aerobic, resistance, stretching, and balance exercises, primarily undertaken at a community — including help with following a MIND diet, supported by peer group meetings and interventionist telephone engagement and social interaction — via cognitive training at home and regular participation in intellectually and socially involving activities in peer health coaching — involving appointments with a medical advisor every six months to review monthly blood-pressure and blood laboratory results, and this program may workU.S. POINTER demonstrates that its multimodal approach can work in patients' family homes with caregivers, but may be adapted for residents at skilled nursing pointed out, however, while care facilities might be able to manage such interventions, 'from what I've seen, they do not often have the staff ratios or consistency useful in enforcing deep lifestyle changes.''For adherence to more complex components — particularly supplementation to guide vascular and metabolic risk factors, and structured physical training — a team-based approach is likely most beneficial,' Ryan noted.'This team would ideally be physician-led, with robust support from a health coach to reinforce behaviors, and include a similarly informed and guided trainer who is acutely aware of the specific cognitive goals and physical limitations of the individual,' he said.'The magic occurs,' Enwere said, 'when the environment meets the clients where they are, physically and cognitively.'As to ideal settings, he suggested patients' homes, community centers, or a hybrid of the two, in order to leverage activities such as senior exercise classes or cooking groups.A holistic approach to treating Alzheimer'sExtensive research has been conducted on the causes and potential solutions for Alzheimer's and related dementias. However, progress has been slow. This may be attributed to a long-standing focus on pharmaceutical solutions for the is believed there are multiple pathologies that lead to ADRD, and thus, as the authors of the U.S. POINTER trial assert, 'There is a critical need for interventions that target several risk pathways simultaneously.'A recent Lancet report identified 14 modifiable ADRD risk factors.'The pharmaceutical approach to Alzheimer's has, regrettably, been largely disappointing, mired by the recent retraction of several studies due to fraud concerns, and overall showing negligible improvement or minimal impact on prevention or progression and the associated high incidence of complications and side effects, brain bleeding being one of them,' Arnold said.'My professional stance on treating Alzheimer's from a non-pharmaceutical angle is one of strong support and profound optimism,' he added.'There is certainly a time and place for medications, but only in certain stages. Medications do not address the underlying behavioral or vascular aspects of decline, a decline that can be made worse by medications.'— John EnwereArnold asserted the U.S. POINTER results, 'reinforce the core functional and integrative medicine principle of simultaneously addressing multiple contributing factors to health and disease.'
Korea Herald
28-07-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
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 TORONTO, July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 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. "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: 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.
