The online lifestyle test shows improved cognition in the elderly

A clinical trial has shown that a lifestyle delivered by Internet has led to significantly better cognition in the elderly.

The team, led by Professor Henry Brodaty ao, co-director of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Center for Healthy Brain Aging (Cheba), calculated a world cognition score from online tests that measured memory, reasoning and speed of information processing, and published their results in Nature Medicine.

The historical test, known as your brain, is the biggest test on the Internet never conducted to try to prevent cognitive decline And dementia.

The researchers recruited more than 6,000 participants aged 55 to 77 years for testing through study 45 and more of the Sax Institute, to target the modifiable risk factors of dementia in general and Alzheimer’s disease especially. The participants were without dementia but brought at least two of the main risk factors for dementia.

Half of the participants received an active intervention which included personalized coaching in two to four modules –physical activity,, brain driveNutrition or depression / anxiety – deducing to their risk factors, while the control group has received information accessible to the public. A Mediterranean diet with limited meat and dairy products, an increase in moderate vigorous intensity exercises and specific computerized brain training types were part of the changes that have led to an improved cognition score.

The test discussed several of the 14 modifiable risk factors directly or indirectly reported by Lancet Commission, representing around 45% of the risk of dementia.

Researchers say the results have international meaning.

“This intervention is evolving with the deployment potential at the level of the population which can delay the cognitive decline of the General Community. We could essentially reduce the prevalence of global dementia if this test was implemented for the wider population”, explains Professor Brodaty.

The biggest advantage to date to prevent cognitive decline

The trial incorporated the participants of the metropolitan, rural and distant regions, and evaluated an online lifestyle intervention to prevent cognitive decline over a period of three years, with follow -ups made at the end of each year. The team divided the participants into two groups.

The test specifically tested if the improvement in lifestyle behavior could slow down cognitive decline.

Professor Brodaty says: “The result was a resounding yes – we can improve cognition over three years, and therefore probably improve resilience to dementia. The two groups have improved, but the intervention group has demonstrated the most Big advantage to date in a randomized control trial to prevent cognitive decline. “

The 82 -year -old Bowral Paddy Goldsmith resident who participated in maintaining your brain, thinks that the trial has taken advantage of her and her husband Geoff. Together, they continued to join the nutritional directives and found that brain training improved their concentration.

“I continue to make a weekly balance and strength training As well as online brain training, which I would never have done without the knowledge learned in the trial, “explains Paddy.

Evidence in support of a tailor -made prevention program

The results recommend personalizing prevention efforts and suggest that interventions focused on a single modifiable risk factor, for example physical inactivity, are less effective in preventing dementia.

“Previous tests do not largely have interventions adapted to risk factors for dementia of individual participants,” said Professor Brodaty. “Our results suggest that personalization of interventions and targeting a wide range of lifestyle factors are important for success.”

The president of the Cheba Advisory Committee, Ita Buttrose AC OBE, says that it is a moment to celebrate.

“We now have clear evidence to support a national dementia prevention program,” said Buttrose. “Previously, Australia was a leader in prevention, in particular with smoking, skin cancer and the minimization of HIV, but we have abandoned the ball. Dementia is an excellent example of where we can and must act now.

“This evidence shows significant advantages to improving cognition and potentially dementia of dementia. It is now time for Australia to seriously think about long -term objectives, to recognize the evidence and to adopt the Need to invest in prevention, “explains Buttrose.

The results can be even more important

The estimate of the intervention effect is considered to be conservative, given the control group and the group which received personalized coaching has improved.

By assessing the self -depressed change in the basic line to monitoring the third year, researchers have also noted significant improvements in aerobic activity, strength training, food and depression scores.

“If we could compare the intervention with a control group that has received no information at all, we would probably discover that the advantages of this test would be even more important,” said Professor Brodaty. “Participants aged 55 to 65 have shown greater advantages than those from 66 to 77 years old, which suggests that we should consider starting prevention programs earlier.”

This test has several forces, in particular in terms of size and methodology of the significant population sample. Limits exist, in particular that the participants were more likely to have university education, a better quality of self -evaluated life and family history of Alzheimer’s disease. There was also a lack of ethno-racial diversity among participants.

Professor Brodaty claims that this research offers new hope for the prevention of dementia.

“Future developments could focus on cultural adaptation, in particular groups targeting lower socio-economic groups and those who have less education.”

The intervention modules were:

• Physical activity, led by the professor of the University of Sydney, Maria Fiatarone Singh – the participants were invited to do 300 minutes of moderate intensity or 150 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise per week as well as Two days of training in force moderate intensity per week, and daily and daily equilibrium training;

• Nutrition, led by Professor Maria Fiatarone Singh – participants were invited to follow a Mediterranean diet by consuming unprocessed plant foods, including vegetables, fruits, legumes, cereals, nuts / seeds and seeds and seeds extra virgin olive oilModerate quantities of fish and crustaceans, and a low consumption of meat, dairy products, eggs and animal fats;

• Brain training, led by UNSW teacher, Michael Valenzuela, this training has targeted seven cognitive areas (verbal executive, verbal memory, visual executive, visual memory, visual attention, speed and working memory) and allocated three sessions 45 minutes each week in the first 10 weeks then monthly sessions;

• The peace of mind, led by Professor Scientia Gavin Andrews and Dr. Michael Millard of the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CUFAD) at St Vincent Hospital – The participants received training via Thiswayup, a digital mental health program based on the principles of cognitivo-behavioral Therapy aimed to reduce or prevent depression and anxiety.