Can Lifestyle Changes Protect the Brain from Alzheimer’s? A Landmark Study Says Yes

Olives Couto, 65, often worried: “Will I end up with Alzheimer’s like my mother?”

So, when she learned about a two-year brain health study being conducted nearby in Rhode Island, she eagerly signed up — and the experience changed her life.

🧠 The U.S. POINTER Study: A National Clinical Trial on Brain Health

A new large-scale study conducted at Butler Hospital’s Memory and Aging Program in Providence, Rhode Island, found that healthy lifestyle changes — including regular physical activity, a brain-healthy diet, and social engagement — can improve brain function in older adults at risk of dementia.

The trial is part of the national U.S. POINTER study (Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk), organized by the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s the first large clinical trial in the U.S. testing whether lifestyle interventions can reduce cognitive decline in older adults.

🧪 Study Design

• A 2-year randomized controlled trial involving around 2,000 participants aged 60–79
• Participants were cognitively healthy but had risk factors for dementia (e.g., high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet)
• Two groups:
  1. Structured Intervention Group:
     • 38 group sessions led by health coaches
     • MIND Diet adherence (Mediterranean + DASH)
     • Aerobic exercises
     • BrainHQ cognitive training
     • Health tracking and support
  2. Self-Guided Group:
     • Less intensive support
     • Occasional check-ins and basic health education materials

🏥 Butler Hospital’s Role in Rhode Island

Butler Hospital enrolled 376 local participants, making it one of five national sites in the study. Researchers specifically worked to include participants from diverse racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds.

Diversity at Butler:

• 30% of participants were from underrepresented communities
• 16% Black, 4.9% Hispanic, 2.6% Asian, 5.7% Multiracial or Other, 70.1% White

Community partners played a major role in helping connect with participants who typically face barriers to accessing medical research.

🌍 Global Relevance

U.S. POINTER is the American counterpart to Finland’s FINGER Study, which also showed lifestyle improvements could protect brain health. The study is part of the World-Wide FINGERS Global Initiative, which includes 35 countries working together to standardize and share data for international progress on Alzheimer’s prevention.

📊 What the Results Suggest So Far

While final results are expected later in 2025, early feedback suggests that participants following structured lifestyle programs showed improved memory, focus, and mental sharpness.

Participants like Olives Couto say the changes made them feel mentally sharper and more confident about aging. For her, the program became a source of purpose, structure, and motivation.

✅ Easy Actions You Can Take Now to Protect Brain Health

1. Follow the MIND Diet:
   Eat more leafy greens, nuts, berries, whole grains, fish, and olive oil

2. Exercise Regularly:
   Walking, aerobics, or strength training several times a week

3. Stay Mentally & Socially Engaged:
   Read books, do brain games (like BrainHQ), stay in touch with friends and family

4. Manage Health Risks:
   Control blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and diabetes to lower dementia risk

🧠 Bottom Line

This landmark study offers real hope: You may be able to reduce your risk of cognitive decline with simple lifestyle changes — even if you have a family history of Alzheimer’s.

As the full data is released, it could change how we think about brain health and aging. And for participants in Rhode Island and beyond, it’s already making a different