Latin American study: structured lifestyle program boosts cognition 55% more than general advice

Older adults at risk of dementia showed improved memory, thinking skills and overall cognitive performance after taking part in one of two culturally adapted lifestyle programs implemented across 11 Latin American countries. The study, known as LatAm-FINGERS and funded by the Alzheimer's Association, ran for two years, with results presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London and published in The Lancet.

The research involved 1,065 participants across 12 study sites in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. Participants were split into two groups. One group, with 539 people, received continuous support including supervised exercise, nutrition counseling based on a modified MIND diet, computerized cognitive training, cardiovascular risk monitoring, and 38 group meetings. The other group, with 526 people, received only periodic health education and general lifestyle recommendations across four meetings, without ongoing supervision.

Results

After two years, participants in the more structured program showed a 55% greater improvement in overall cognitive performance compared with those who received only general advice. They also showed significantly larger gains in memory, executive function and processing speed.

The program was not simply a translation of the original U.S. model, known as U.S. POINTER — local working groups adapted it to regional culture, climate, food availability and access to technology. Physical activity options included salsa, tango and outdoor group workouts in parks, while nutrition guidance incorporated locally available foods such as avocado, quinoa, açaí, aguaymanto, chia and pumpkin seeds.

Researchers say the results show that such programs can be adapted for diverse communities regardless of income level, offering a potentially valuable tool for reducing dementia risk as the condition becomes more common worldwide.