Measurable improvements in cognitive function - in early-stage Alzheimer’s.

15 July

Written By Rachel

A clinical trial from Harvard Medical School and the McCance Center for Brain Health with Dean Ornish, published on 7 June 2024 in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, validates that targeted lifestyle changes can lead to measurable improvements in cognitive function - in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

“To get significant results on these cognitive tests in just 20 weeks, in just 50 patients, only altering lifestyle … was shocking to me.”
— Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, Harvard Medical School

What Did It Involve?

This 20-week randomized controlled trial, involved 51 participants diagnosed with either early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants ranged in age from 45 to 90 years, with an average age of 73.5.

The study aimed to test whether multiple lifestyle interventions could lead to improvements in cognitive outcomes. Importantly, this was a non-pharmaceutical approach grounded entirely in lifestyle.

Of the enrolled participants:

26 were randomly assigned to the intervention group and received multiple lifestyle interventions for 20 weeks
25 were assigned to a control group that maintained their usual habits and care for 20 weeks, after which they were offered the intervention

The Lifestyle Interventions

Participants in the intervention group received:

Plant-based meals delivered to their home
Multiple nutritional supplements aimed at supporting brain function, including: Omega‑3 fatty acids, curcumin, a multivitamin, vitamin C, vitamin B12, magnesium L‑threonate, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a probiotic, and lion’s mane mushroom
30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise
Strength training three times per week
One hour per day of stress-reduction techniques (e.g. yoga, meditation, breathing)
Online support group sessions via Zoom, three times per week.

The Results

40% of participants in the lifestyle group showed cognitive improvement, as assessed using the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) - a clinician-rated tool that measures overall improvement or worsening of a condition.

0% of participants in the control group showed improvement.

Biomarkers in the lifestyle group also improved, including: Healthier cholesterol levels; Improved blood sugar control; Reduced inflammation; and increased diversity in gut microbiome composition

Why Only 40%?

Although the results were excellent, not all participants in the study experienced improvement. Why? Because cognitive decline doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all cause. Each person carries a unique mix of contributors and risk factors.

While the lifestyle changes in this study such as diet, movement, stress reduction, and social support, helped address many foundational areas, some contributors may not have been fully explored or treated (e.g. toxins, chronic infections, and others). Imagine a checklist that looks for contributing factors and their management where only half the boxes are checked off as managed!

It’s a reminder that cognitive health is personal and sometimes what’s not addressed matters just as much as what is.

What This Means for You

Whether you're worried about memory, focus, or brain fog or simply want to stay sharp as you age, this study offers a validation of what we already know and practice - that lifestyle is powerful for cognitive health. Cognitive function can respond to the right inputs and the right support.