Latin American Lifestyle Study Boosts Cognitive Scores by 55% in Seniors at Dementia Risk

The multinational LatAm‑FINGERS trial evaluated a structured, multidomain lifestyle program that combined five daily habits—regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, cardiovascular risk‑factor control, targeted cognitive training, and social engagement. Conducted over two years in 11 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay), the study enrolled 1,065 participants aged 60‑77 who were at risk of cognitive decline. Participants receiving the intensive intervention showed a 55 % greater improvement in global cognition than those given generic health advice, with notable gains in episodic memory, attention and executive function. About 82 % completed the follow‑up. The trial, led by Argentine neuropsychologist Lucía Crivelli, was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2026 in London and will continue with a four‑year follow‑up.

The World Health Organization’s new dementia‑prevention guidelines echo the trial’s findings, estimating that up to 45 % of dementia cases could be averted or delayed by managing modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, excessive alcohol use, air‑pollution exposure and social isolation. The WHO stresses that preventive action can reduce the disease’s global economic burden, currently estimated at $1.3 trillion annually.