Healthy Lifestyle Changes Over 60 Can Enhance Brain Function
Discover how lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, exercise, and mental training can boost brain health and prevent cognitive decline in older adults—regardless of risk factors.
Recent research indicates that adopting a comprehensive healthy lifestyle can significantly support brain health in older adults, even those at increased risk of cognitive decline. A two-year program combining dietary adjustments, regular physical activity, and mental exercises demonstrated promising results in preventing age-related cognitive deterioration.
The study, presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto, involved over 2,100 individuals aged 60 to 79 across five U.S. academic centers. Participants who successfully modified their lifestyle behaviors—including switching to the brain-friendly MIND diet, engaging in aerobic, resistance, and stretching exercises, and committing to daily cognitive challenges—showed notable improvements in overall cognitive scores.
Participants met regularly with health professionals to track progress, with the more structured program involving 38 peer meetings, compared to only six self-directed sessions in a less structured approach. Remarkably, 89% of individuals remained engaged throughout the study.
The results were encouraging across diverse demographics, regardless of sex, ethnicity, genetic risk factors like the APOE gene, or existing heart health. The cognitive benefits were measured through global scores encompassing memory, attention, language, and executive functions such as planning and multitasking.
Experts emphasize that these brain-preserving effects occurred without pharmaceutical intervention. Integrating lifestyle strategies with potential drug therapies could be the future of dementia prevention. As Dr. Joanne Pike from the Alzheimer's Association notes, promoting healthy behaviors is vital, especially as the worldwide burden of dementia continues to grow.
In essence, this study advocates for a multifaceted approach to maintaining brain health in later years, demonstrating that lifestyle modifications can create meaningful impacts on cognitive vitality in aging populations.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-healthy-lifestyle-boost-brain.html
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