Phyllis Jones begins each day with a workout in exotic places—even on the moon. Thanks to virtual reality, the 66-year-old from Aurora, Illinois, stays active from home. Just a few years ago, her life looked very different. She had prediabetes, rising blood pressure and cholesterol, and had fallen into a deep depression.
“I was just in bed,” Jones said. “I didn’t care at all. I was spiraling.”
Her family history added to the concern. Both her mother and grandmother died of vascular dementia. Watching them suffer made her determined to change her path.
“I’m not that person anymore,” she said.
That transformation began when Jones joined a large clinical study called the U.S. POINTER trial. The research focused on whether healthy habits could protect older adults from cognitive decline.
Structured Program Showed Stronger Brain Benefits
More than 2,000 adults took part in the study. All were considered high-risk for dementia. Half were simply given health advice. The other half joined a more intensive program with regular coaching, team activities, brain games, and group workouts. They also followed the MIND diet—rich in fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and whole grains, while avoiding processed foods.
Cognitive abilities were tested over two years. These included memory, multitasking, focus, and response speed.
Both groups improved. However, the structured group showed significantly better results. Participants performed similarly to people one to two years younger.
“This is what gives people resilience against cognitive decline,” said Laura Baker, lead researcher and professor of gerontology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Advocate Health.
She credited the program’s success to its ongoing support and accountability.
“We didn’t just give advice. We partnered with participants to help them meet their goals,” Baker explained at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, where the results were presented.
Landmark Study Published in Medical Journal
The findings were also published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). It’s the first large-scale randomized controlled trial in the U.S. to prove that structured lifestyle changes can measurably improve brain health.
Experts say this discovery is critical, especially as dementia cases are expected to double by 2060. Right now, about 10% of Americans over 65 live with dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type, affecting nearly 7 million Americans.
No drug can cure dementia, and treatments only slightly slow the disease. That’s why prevention is so important.
“Many people feel hopeless, like there’s nothing they can do,” said Dr. Richard Isaacson, a Florida-based neurologist who was not involved in the study. “But these findings show we’re not powerless.”
More Studies Support Lifestyle’s Role in Brain Health
This isn’t the only research with encouraging news. Another study at the same conference showed that regular walking can help protect the brains of people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s.
Rachel Wu, a cognitive psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, pointed out that lifestyle changes are practical for almost everyone.
“There’s no downside, no harmful side effects,” she said. “The only cost is time.”
More Biological Data Expected Soon
Researchers also collected blood samples and brain scans from POINTER participants to look for Alzheimer’s-related proteins—amyloid and tau. These markers will be analyzed in future reports.
“We’ll soon be able to ask deeper questions,” said Dr. Heather Snyder, a senior scientist with the Alzheimer’s Association. “Does someone with certain biology respond better to lifestyle changes?”
That next wave of results is expected within a year.
Today, Phyllis Jones is 30 pounds lighter. She no longer has prediabetes and doesn’t need cholesterol-lowering medications. Most importantly, she feels mentally and emotionally renewed.
“I don’t know what they saw in my brain,” she said, “but I know I’m a different person.”
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