Structured Lifestyle Program Yields Statistically Vital Cognitive Positive factors in US POINTER Trial

A 2-year, section 3 randomized scientific trial of greater than 2111 sedentary adults aged 60 to 79 years at elevated threat for dementia discovered that each a structured, coach-supported life-style program and a lower-intensity self-guided method improved international cognition, with the structured arm offering a modest however statistically important extra profit.¹

The US Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (US POINTER) enrolled 2111 members throughout 5 US educational facilities; 68.9% had been ladies and 30.8% recognized with ethnoracial minority teams. Retention at 24 months was 89%.¹

Participants had been randomized 1:1 to a structured (STR) or self-guided (SG) multidomain life-style intervention focusing on bodily exercise, adherence to the MIND food plan, cognitive and social stimulation, and cardiometabolic threat administration. The STR arm met in facilitated peer groups 38 instances over 24 months with prescriptive targets for cardio, resistance, and adaptability train, BrainHQ cognitive coaching, and clinician-reviewed well being metrics, whereas the SG arm met six instances and relied on participant-selected conduct modifications with normal encouragement.¹

Primary and secondary outcomes. Global cognitive composite scores improved in each teams; the annualized acquire favored STR over SG by 0.029 customary deviations (95 % CI, 0.008-0.050; P = .008). Executive perform improved a further 0.037 customary deviations per 12 months in STR (95% CI, 0.010-0.064). Processing pace trended in the identical route, whereas reminiscence scores didn’t differ between teams. Benefits had been constant no matter age, intercourse, ethnicity, apolipoprotein E ε4 genotype, or baseline cardiovascular well being.¹

“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,” Joanne Pike, DrPH, president and chief government officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, mentioned in a press launch.²

Lead investigator Laura D. Baker, PhD, famous that even the lower-intensity program was cognitively useful: “The potential to improve cognition with fewer resources and lower participant burden is compelling… even modest changes may protect the brain.”²

Researchers will proceed to research vascular, imaging, sleep, and intestine microbiome knowledge collected through the examine and discover mixed pharmacologic and life-style methods to additional mitigate dementia threat.¹

---

References:

1. Kivipelto M, et al. Long-term adherence to life-style modifications and affiliation with cognitive change: Eleven-year outcomes from the FINGER randomized, managed trial. Presented at: Alzheimer’s Association International Conference; July 27-31, 2025; Toronto.
2. U.S. Pointer Study Shows Structured Lifestyle Program Targeting Multiple Risk Factors Improves Cognition in Older Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline. News launch. Alzheimer’s Association. July 28, 2025. Accessed August 4, 2025.