Dementia risk may be lowered with goal-oriented, group-focused lifestyle programs, new study finds

First large-scale trial shows structured lifestyle changes—diet, exercise, brain training—can measurably improve brain health in older adults at high dementia risk.

Phyllis Jones wakes up every morning to work up a sweat in countries all over the world, “and even sometimes on the moon,” she said, thanks to her favorite workout gadget, a virtual reality headset.

Her focus on exercise is light-years away from where Jones, 66, of Aurora, Illinois, was just a few years ago. She had prediabetes, and her cholesterol and blood pressure levels were inching up.

She was totally sedentary after falling into deep depression. “I was in bed. I didn’t care at all. I was just spiraling,” Jones said.

She was probably also destined to lose her ability to think clearly.

Jones’ mother and grandmother died of vascular dementia, a condition that occurs when the body can’t pump enough blood to the brain. Other family members had the disease, too.