Lifestyle Changes Improved Cognition in People at Risk for Alzheimer's, Study Shows

A study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association found personalized lifestyle changes halted cognitive decline in people at risk for Alzheimer's, boosting their memory and thinking skills within 18 months, reports CNN . "This is the first study in a real-world clinic setting showing individualized clinical management may improve cognitive function and also reduce Alzheimer's and cardiovascular risk," said the New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical Center's Richard Isaacson. Customers at his Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic have been undergoing physical and mental tests since 2013, with magnetic resonance imaging scans taken to look for early indications of amyloid plaque buildup. Current and past medical problems, genetics, family history, dietary patterns, exercise habits, levels of stress, and sleep patterns are recorded as well. Isaacson's team enlisted 154 participants between 25 and 86 years old with a family history of Alzheimer's, whose cognitive test results were troubling. Thirty-five subjects were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and given a personalized prescription plan recommending an average 21 lifestyle behaviors to implement. Persons with diagnosed MCI who followed more than 12 out of 21 behavior changes on average had better memory and thinking skills 18 months later, while those who followed less than 12 behaviors showed continued decline.