Of course, individuals can’t control all of their risks for dementia, such as genetics, family history or early life education. But experts note that there are still many things people can do. “People should pursue as many of these strategies as they can,” Coresh says.
Strategies to reduce the risk of dementia also help protect against heart disease and depression, Coresh adds. “If people do them, they may benefit in multiple ways.”
One of the study participants, Phyllis Jones, said she was unhealthy and deeply depressed before joining the two-year trial. A panic attack related to work stress sent her to the emergency room.
“Looking back on that time of my life, I hardly recognize myself,” said Jones, 66, at a July 28 press conference.
She said that she rarely exercised before joining the clinical trial and that the structured lifestyle changes helped her lose 30 pounds, reverse her prediabetes, lower her cholesterol and improve her knee pain.
Her mental functioning also improved over the two-year study. When Jones began a new job during the trial, she initially found it difficult to keep up with frequent emails and group chats.
“I didn’t think fast,” she said. “Now, I’m right up there with the young people. I’m able to follow the conversation. I’m able to respond as quickly as I need to.”
More than 7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. By 2050, that figure is projected to rise to nearly 13 million.
Although many people assume their dementia risk is set in stone, the trial shows “it is not too late to do things when you are 60 to 79,” Coresh says.
How the study was performed
The study participants came from five communities around the United States. More than two-thirds of them were women, and about 30 percent identified as racial or ethnic minorities.
In the self-guided group, trained navigators encouraged healthy habits during six group meetings over two years. Participants received $75 gift cards to encourage them to make lifestyle changes. They also got annual checkups to monitor blood pressure and lab test results.
One of the self-guided group members, Peter Gijsbers van Wijk of Houston, said the trial inspired him to make lasting changes. Van Wijk, 72, now walks five miles a day, he said at the July 28 press conference.
Participants assigned to the structured regimen received a much more intensive intervention. Over the two years, they attended 38 team meetings and received telephone support. They exercised at least three hours a week, with aerobic exercise four days a week and resistance and flexibility training twice a week.
They were taught how to follow the MIND diet, which combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, which are associated with slower rates of cognitive decline. Participants performed web-based cognitive training three times a week for 15 to 20 minutes per session, and health professionals reviewed their lab results twice a year, monitoring their blood pressure, cholesterol and hemoglobin A1C levels, which are used to diagnose diabetes. Lastly, people in this group received monthly rebates of up to $10 to buy blueberries, provided by the blueberry industry group.
