Argentine leader behind study that prevented dementia in 55% of seniors explains why results are a milestone

A groundbreaking clinical trial, LatAm-FINGERS, has demonstrated that integrating five daily habits can significantly enhance cognitive function in older adults, offering a new path for dementia prevention. The study, published in the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet, involved a complex coordination of 1,065 participants across 11 countries over a two-year period.

Lucía Crivelli, lead neuropsychologist at FLENI and principal investigator for the project, described the extensive behind-the-scenes effort required. "This is research we started five years ago. I wrote the project and presented it to get support. Finally, we obtained very important funding from the United States to develop the study in the participating countries," Crivelli explained. The trial focused on individuals aged 60 to 77.

Over two years, researchers evaluated the impact of a simultaneous intervention on physical activity, diet, cardiovascular factor control, cognitive training, and socialization. The goal was to determine if these combined habits could modify the course of cognitive decline, specifically the development of dementia, including conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

“

This is research we started five years ago. I wrote the project and presented it to get support. Finally, we obtained very important funding from the United States to develop the study in the participating countries.

The results were compelling: participants who underwent the multidomain intervention showed a 55% greater improvement in global cognition compared to a control group that received only general recommendations on healthy habits. Notably, the benefits extended to crucial daily life areas such as episodic memory, attention, and executive functions. Crivelli highlighted that even participants receiving only general brain health advice showed cognitive improvements, underscoring the positive impact of lifestyle choices.

An innovative organizational structure was key to the study's success. "There was a general principal investigator, which is me, and then a principal investigator in each of the countries. That was key. Each country had its local scientific authority and its own leadership," Crivelli said. This decentralized approach allowed each country to adapt the protocol to its specific social and cultural context, from dietary recommendations to participant recruitment strategies.

“

There was a general principal investigator, which is me, and then a principal investigator in each of the countries. That was key. Each country had its local scientific authority and its own leadership.