Skip to main content

Lifestyle Intervention Can Improve Cognition, Function in Early Alzheimer Disease

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 13, 2024.

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.

Abstract/Full Text

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.

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

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.