Co-principal investigator Laura Baker, Ph.D.
Groundbreaking results from U.S. POINTER provide rigorous data showing that healthy behaviors can protect brain health across diverse populations in the United States. The Alzheimer’s Association U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) — a two-year, multisite clinical trial testing two different lifestyle interventions in a representative population of 2,111 older adults at risk for cognitive decline and dementia — found that both interventions improved cognition.
The programs focused on regular physical activity, improved nutrition, cognitive and social engagement, and health monitoring. Participants in the intervention with more support and accountability showed greater improvement compared to the self-guided intervention group. Their thinking and memory were protected from normal age-related decline for up to two years. Cognitive benefits were consistent across age, sex, ethnicity, heart health status and apolipoprotein E-e4 genotype.
U.S. POINTER is the single largest research commitment in Alzheimer’s Association history. We have invested nearly $50 million to lead U.S. POINTER, with the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health providing support for add-on studies exploring imaging, vascular measures, sleep and gut microbiome-related health data.
The Alzheimer’s Association is leveraging the results to ensure people in all communities have opportunity to meaningfully improve their brain health. The Association will invest an additional $40 million over the next four years to revolutionize two core elements of our mission — brain health and risk reduction. We seek philanthropic partners to support this phase, which includes initiatives such as:
Discovery Science
Early Detection
Treatment
Prevention
Step Up the Pace is a special initiative to increase philanthropic investment in four key dementia research outcomes areas: Discovery Science, Early Detection, Treatment and Prevention.
