Lifestyle Intervention Can Improve Cognition, Function in Early Alzheimer Disease
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, June 13, 2024 -- For patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early dementia due to Alzheimer disease (AD), comprehensive lifestyle changes may improve cognition and function, according to a study published online June 7 in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy.
Dean Ornish, M.D., from Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, and colleagues conducted a randomized controlled phase 2 trial involving 51 individuals aged 45 to 90 years with MCI or early dementia due to AD and a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of 18 or higher. Changes in cognition and function tests were examined after 20 weeks of an intensive multidomain lifestyle intervention versus a wait-list usual-care control group.
The researchers found significant between-group differences in the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC), Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), and Clinical Dementia Rating Global (CDR Global), as well as borderline significant differences in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog) after 20 weeks. Compared with the control group, which worsened in all four measures, the intervention group showed improvement in cognition and function on the CGIC, CDR-Global, and ADAS-Cog and showed significantly less progression on the CDR-SB. There was an increase in the β-amyloid (Aβ)42/40 ratio in the intervention group and a decrease in the control group. A significant correlation was seen between lifestyle and both cognitive function and the plasma Aβ42/40 ratio. Improvement in the microbiome was only seen in the intervention group.
"These findings support longer follow-up and larger clinical trials to determine the longer-term outcomes of this intensive lifestyle medicine intervention in larger groups of more diverse AD populations," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2024
Read this next
Exposure to Certain HIV Drugs May Significantly Lower Risk for Alzheimer Disease
TUESDAY, May 20, 2025 -- Exposure to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), which treat HIV and hepatitis B and inhibit inflammasome activation, is associated with a...
Overwork Tied to Structural Changes in Brains of Health Care Workers
MONDAY, May 19, 2025 -- Overwork in health care workers is associated with structural brain changes, particularly in regions linked to cognition and emotion, according to a study...
Greater Sedentary Time Associated With Higher Risk for Alzheimer Disease
FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 -- Sedentary time is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer disease (AD), according to a study published online May 13 in Alzheimer's &...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.