Exercise, Diet, and Brain Training Can Slow Mental Aging: Study Finds - Video

A new large-scale study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference has offered the strongest evidence yet that a structured combination of diet, exercise, brain training, and social activity can significantly improve cognitive function in older adults. Known as the POINTER study, it is the most comprehensive U.S.-based trial of its kind and suggests that brain aging may be delayed through targeted lifestyle changes.

Led by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the POINTER study enrolled over 2,100 sedentary adults aged 60 to 79 who were at elevated risk for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Participants had normal memory and thinking at the start, but were selected based on having a poor diet and low levels of physical activity.

Half of the participants were advised to improve their lifestyle on their own. The other half engaged in an intensive, two-year program involving four weekly aerobic exercise sessions, adherence to a Mediterranean-style heart-healthy diet, online cognitive training, required social engagement, and regular monitoring of blood sugar and blood pressure.

While both groups improved, those in the structured intervention group saw significantly greater gains in memory and thinking skills. “These people are obtaining cognitive function scores that are similar to people [like them who are] one to two years younger than they are,” said Dr. Laura Baker, principal investigator and professor of gerontology and geriatrics.

Importantly, the study focused on age-related brain changes rather than Alzheimer's disease directly. But experts believe that the improvements in cognitive function and “brain age” could eventually delay the onset of dementia. Additional findings from brain scans and biomarker analyses are expected later this year.

Experts say that with greater investment, physician engagement, and behavior-change tools, such approaches could become standard in dementia prevention.

Reference: Baker LD, Espeland MA, Whitmer RA, et al. Structured vs Self-Guided Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions for Global Cognitive Function: The US POINTER Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. Published online July 28, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.12923