Older adults at risk of developing dementia could slow the rate of their brain’s ageing by combining four lifestyle changes and sticking to them, a new study has found.

The Alzheimer’s Association U.S POINTER study tested two lifestyle interventions on over 2,000 older adults.

The interventions involved exercising, following a healthy diet, and engaging in brain training and social activities – one was structured, with regular peer meetings and coaching, while the other was more self-guided.

Both groups witnessed improvements on tests of memory and cognition after the two-year assessment – with the structured group benefiting more.

Laura Baker, one of the lead authors and Professor of Gerontology and Geriatrics, told NPR that participants were “obtaining cognitive function scores that are similar to people one to two years younger than they are”.

Interventions to slow brain ageing

People involved in the study were identified as being at risk from cognitive decline or dementia – they were aged 60-79 years old, had a sedentary lifestyle, suboptimal diet and heart health, or family history of memory impairment.

Participants were enrolled and randomised to one of two groups.

The first group, STR, followed a “structured lifestyle........

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