Healthy eating, exercising, and brain-training may be able to slow down cognitive decline in at risk individuals according to a new study.
Researchers performed a randomised control trial of 1,260 people between 60 and 77 years old who were considered at risk for dementia. Individuals in the control group were given only regular health advice, compared to the test group, who were followed more closely and given detailed advice on healthy eating and exercise, as well as computer-based cognitive training exercises.
After two years of intervention the researchers found that individuals in the test group scored significantly better on a standard neuropsychological test. The test group was able to perform 25% better, and answer questions 150% faster on average than the control group, meaning the test group was able to provide more accurate answers in a shorter time-frame than the control group.
Original research paper published in The Lancet on March 11, 2015.
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