Overview

• The U.S. POINTER randomized clinical trial of 2,111 sedentary older adults at elevated Alzheimer’s risk found that both structured coach-led and self-guided lifestyle interventions produced measurable gains in global cognitive function.
• Participants in the structured program, which included regular group meetings, exercise regimens, the MIND diet, cognitive training via BrainHQ, social engagement activities, and heart health monitoring, experienced significantly greater improvements, especially in executive function.
• Executive function scores rose most prominently among participants with the lowest baseline cognitive performance, indicating that those at greatest risk benefited the most from the interventions.
• The findings were published in JAMA on July 28 and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, underscoring the value of coach-led, multidomain prevention strategies in diverse, community settings.
• Researchers have begun analyzing longitudinal brain imaging and biomarker data to determine the interventions’ long-term effects on neural structure and Alzheimer’s risk.