A structured programme combining regular exercise with a brain-healthy diet can improve memory and thinking in older people at risk of dementia, according to a new study published in The Lancet. The trial, conducted across 12 Latin American countries, involved more than 1,000 participants aged 60 to 77 who were considered at risk due to factors such as age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoking.
Study Design and Intervention
Around half of the participants were assigned to a two-year programme that included supervised exercise sessions four days a week, personalised dietary advice focusing on brain-healthy foods like green leafy vegetables, whole grains, berries, fish, nuts, and beans, as well as social activities and computer-based brain training. The activities were tailored to local culture, including salsa dancing, and researchers ensured diets were affordable and easy to source locally. Participants also had their blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar regularly monitored.
The other group received general health advice and attended four one-hour meetings over the two years.
Key Findings
The study found that cognition, episodic memory, executive function, and processing speed were all significantly better among those following the structured programme compared to the control group. Researchers noted that the findings suggest "harmonised, non-pharmacological interventions can be implemented across diverse sociocultural settings while maintaining standardisation and producing measurable cognitive benefits in older adults."
Implications for Dementia Prevention
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, approximately one million people in the UK currently have dementia, a figure projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. The study highlights the potential of lifestyle interventions to mitigate cognitive decline and reduce dementia risk in aging populations.
