Latest news with #POINTER
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Gulf Today
Healthy living helps the aging brain
Lisa Jarvis, Tribune News Service A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association makes a compelling case that a healthy lifestyle does an aging brain good. That might sound obvious. Eat well, exercise, challenge yourself mentally, have an active social life and you'll be better off for it. Yet researchers are just starting to offer concrete data to support the theory that making conscientious lifestyle changes can lower the risk of dementia, which is estimated to affect some 6 million Americans. But the message that people have some agency over their brain health must be paired with another one: They need help. Changing deeply ingrained habits is hard. However, the research suggests that building a supportive community around individuals could significantly improve their chances for success. The so-called 'POINTER' trial enrolled more than 2,000 participants in their 60s and 70s, all of whom were at risk for dementia. Researchers followed the volunteers over two years as they embarked on lifestyle changes. The participants had a lot of room for improvement; none of them exercised regularly, and they all had poor diets. The volunteers were divided into two groups: One set its own priorities, while the other took part in a highly structured program that included regular exercise, a specific diet, computer-based brain games, social activities and community support. Remarkably, participants in both groups saw significant improvements in their cognitive health. But the group that received the more intensive intervention held back the aging clock by even more, says Laura Baker, a gerontologist at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and a principal investigator of the study. This large trial gives weight to a growing body of work underscoring the connection between lifestyle and cognitive health. That link was highlighted in a study commissioned by The Lancet that found nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide could be delayed or attenuated by focusing on specific aspects of our health. The Lancet team identified more than a dozen risk factors, including hearing and vision loss, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, social isolation and exposure to air pollution. There are caveats to the new findings. In an accompanying editorial, Jonathan Schott, a neurologist at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, raised the question of whether the modest difference in benefit between the two groups was enough to justify the cost of the more rigorous intervention in a real-world setting. He also noted that further research needs to be done to determine whether improvements in brain health are sustained over time — and whether they ultimately lead to a lower incidence of dementia and a better quality of life. Answers to some of those questions are hopefully coming soon. In December, researchers will report some data from a series of side studies conducted as part of the trial, examining how various lifestyle interventions affected factors such as sleep, vascular health, gut health and markers of Alzheimer's disease in the brain. Meanwhile, the research team is following the participants for another four years to see whether folks stick with the changes they made — and determine whether even a temporary intervention can have longer-term benefits for brain health. But even before we have more data, enough evidence exists to suggest that it's long past time to give older folks more support as they age. It's not enough for doctors to give people a to-do list and hope they follow through. 'Just because you have the prescription, doesn't mean you can do it,' Baker says. People who are at risk of dementia are struggling for a reason, she says, and they both need and deserve help. The community support offered to the group that saw the most benefit in the POINTER trial was a crucial component of their success. 'The whole investigator team feels like if you were to cut out the social component, we would have nothing to report,' she says. 'We're asking people to create new habits,' and that's hard to do on your own. Phyllis Jones, a 66-year-old from Aurora, Illinois, who was part of the structured intervention group, said the peer support has given her a community and purpose. 'I gained a network of incredible people — friends, mentors, and fellow advocates,' she told reporters at a conference in Toronto where the results were unveiled. The effect of the intervention was so profound — she lowered her blood sugar and cholesterol, lost weight and relieved joint pain — that she now refers to herself as 'Phyllis-BP' (Before POINTER) and 'Phyllis-AP' (After POINTER).
News18
2 days 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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Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Healthy living helps the aging brain
Lisa Jarvis A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association makes a compelling case that a healthy lifestyle does an aging brain good. That might sound obvious. Eat well, exercise, challenge yourself mentally, have an active social life and you'll be better off for it. Yet researchers are just starting to offer concrete data to support the theory that making conscientious lifestyle changes can lower the risk of dementia, which is estimated to affect some 6 million Americans. But the message that people have some agency over their brain health must be paired with another one: They need help. Changing deeply ingrained habits is hard. However, the research suggests that building a supportive community around individuals could significantly improve their chances for success. The so-called 'POINTER' trial enrolled more than 2,000 participants in their 60s and 70s, all of whom were at risk for dementia. Researchers followed the volunteers over two years as they embarked on lifestyle changes. The participants had a lot of room for improvement; none of them exercised regularly, and they all had poor diets. The volunteers were divided into two groups: One set its own priorities, while the other took part in a highly structured program that included regular exercise, a specific diet, computer-based brain games, social activities and community support. Remarkably, participants in both groups saw significant improvements in their cognitive health. But the group that received the more intensive intervention held back the aging clock by even more, says Laura Baker, a gerontologist at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and a principal investigator of the study. This large trial gives weight to a growing body of work underscoring the connection between lifestyle and cognitive health. That link was highlighted in a study commissioned by The Lancet that found nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide could be delayed or attenuated by focusing on specific aspects of our health. The Lancet team identified more than a dozen risk factors, including hearing and vision loss, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, social isolation and exposure to air pollution. There are caveats to the new findings. In an accompanying editorial, Jonathan Schott, a neurologist at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, raised the question of whether the modest difference in benefit between the two groups was enough to justify the cost of the more rigorous intervention in a real-world setting. He also noted that further research needs to be done to determine whether improvements in brain health are sustained over time — and whether they ultimately lead to a lower incidence of dementia and a better quality of life. Answers to some of those questions are hopefully coming soon. In December, researchers will report some data from a series of side studies conducted as part of the trial, examining how various lifestyle interventions affected factors such as sleep, vascular health, gut health and markers of Alzheimer's disease in the brain. Meanwhile, the research team is following the participants for another four years to see whether folks stick with the changes they made — and determine whether even a temporary intervention can have longer-term benefits for brain health. But even before we have more data, enough evidence exists to suggest that it's long past time to give older folks more support as they age. It's not enough for doctors to give people a to-do list and hope they follow through. 'Just because you have the prescription, doesn't mean you can do it,' Baker says. People who are at risk of dementia are struggling for a reason, she says, and they both need and deserve help. The community support offered to the group that saw the most benefit in the POINTER trial was a crucial component of their success. 'The whole investigator team feels like if you were to cut out the social component, we would have nothing to report,' she says. 'We're asking people to create new habits,' and that's hard to do on your own. Phyllis Jones, a 66-year-old from Aurora, Illinois, who was part of the structured intervention group, said the peer support has given her a community and purpose. 'I gained a network of incredible people — friends, mentors, and fellow advocates,' she told reporters at a conference in Toronto where the results were unveiled. The effect of the intervention was so profound — she lowered her blood sugar and cholesterol, lost weight and relieved joint pain — that she now refers to herself as 'Phyllis-BP' (Before POINTER) and 'Phyllis-AP' (After POINTER). The question, of course, is how to recreate what Jones and others experienced within the confines of a rigorous clinical trial for older adults living in the real world. Their exact intensive program is likely to be impractical and too expensive to replicate. Moreover, the kind of community network that is embraced by one city might fall flat in another. To that end, the Alzheimer's Association — which has already invested $50 million in the study — is in the process of awarding grants to 10 cities, including the five that were in the initial trial, to understand how community-based support could work within local health care systems. Jones's experience also highlights the importance of helping people take charge of their health as they age. Both her mother and grandmother had dementia, and she believes the trial has sparked a generational shift in behavior. 'This program has transformed not only my attitudes and behaviors towards brain health, but also those of my daughter,' and in turn her granddaughter, she says. That seems like an investment worth making. (Lisa Jarvis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, health care and the pharmaceutical industry.)
The Age
6 days ago
- Health
- The Age
Want to maintain brain health as you age? Science says follow these simple rules
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. The study, known as US POINTER, is the largest trial to examine how healthy lifestyle behaviours can improve brain health. Its results were published in JAMA medical journal and presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto. About 45 per cent 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,' says 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 modelled on a 2015 randomised control trial in Finland, was designed to see how cognitive benefits of structured lifestyle changes could generalise to a larger, more diverse population. The trial provides 'a new recipe' to improve cognitive function and shows healthy behaviours matter for brain health, says 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 2111 adults aged 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 known to be at high risk for dementia; 31 per cent of participants were from ethnic or minority groups, and 78 per cent had a family history of memory impairment.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Want to maintain brain health as you age? Science says follow these simple rules
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. The study, known as US POINTER, is the largest trial to examine how healthy lifestyle behaviours can improve brain health. Its results were published in JAMA medical journal and presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto. About 45 per cent 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,' says 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 modelled on a 2015 randomised control trial in Finland, was designed to see how cognitive benefits of structured lifestyle changes could generalise to a larger, more diverse population. The trial provides 'a new recipe' to improve cognitive function and shows healthy behaviours matter for brain health, says 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 2111 adults aged 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 known to be at high risk for dementia; 31 per cent of participants were from ethnic or minority groups, and 78 per cent had a family history of memory impairment.
