The Alzheimer’s Association-funded LatAm-FINGERS study, conducted across 11 Latin American countries, demonstrated that culturally adapted lifestyle programs significantly improved memory, thinking skills, and overall cognitive performance in older adults at risk of dementia. The study, which followed participants for two years, revealed the strongest benefits among those who received more structured guidance, including regular coaching and support. The findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2026 in London and published in The Lancet, building on results from the U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER).

The LatAm-FINGERS trial compared two intervention groups: the Systematic Lifestyle Intervention (SLI) group, which received continuous coaching and support through supervised exercise, nutrition counseling, computerized cognitive training, and regular group meetings, and the Flexible Lifestyle Intervention (FLI) group, which received periodic health education and broad lifestyle recommendations with limited ongoing support. After two years, the SLI group exhibited a 55% greater improvement in a composite measure of global cognition compared to the FLI group, along with significant gains in memory, executive function, and processing speed. The study underscores the importance of structured support and social engagement in enhancing cognitive outcomes across diverse populations. Source

This is a summary. Read the original at sciencedaily.com.