Extended Benefits of Lifestyle Interventions for Aging Adults at Risk of Dementia

Long-term adherence to a comprehensive lifestyle intervention has been associated with sustained cognitive and functional benefits in older adults at risk for dementia, according to a recent 11-year study from Finland. The research indicates that participants who closely followed a two-year, multidomain program—focused on nutrition, exercise, cognitive training, social engagement, and vascular risk management—experienced significant improvements in memory, executive function, and processing speed, with these benefits persisting over more than a decade. The study, part of the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study for Preventing Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), involved 1,259 individuals with an average age of 68.8 years. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or a control group. Cognitive assessments conducted at baseline, 1 and 2 years, and then at 5, 7, and 11 years revealed that those who adhered most strictly to the program showed the greatest long-term gains. At the 11-year follow-up, the average participant was around 80 years old, and those with higher adherence to the lifestyle changes demonstrated notably better cognitive scores c...