Drivers & Capacity
External empirical finding · Supporting · 2025
A structured lifestyle program produced a small additional cognitive gain over active self-guided support
In a two-year randomized trial of 2,111 adults aged 60–79 at elevated risk of cognitive decline, both interventions addressed physical activity, cognitive activity, healthy diet, social engagement, and cardiovascular health monitoring. Global cognition improved in both groups, with the more structured and intensive program improving by 0.029 standard deviations per year more than the lower-intensity self-guided program.
Research basis
Single-blind, multicenter randomized clinical trial. Adults aged 60–79 who were sedentary, had suboptimal diets, and met additional dementia-risk criteria.
What it supports
Modifiable lifestyle drivers can influence measured cognition in the studied older, at-risk population.
Boundary
The trial involved older adults selected for elevated cognitive-decline risk. It did not study executives, workplace outcomes, healthy midlife populations, or integrated Biological Capacity. The functional and long-term clinical importance of the small difference remains uncertain.
BOL relevance
Provides intervention evidence for a bounded Drivers to measured cognition pathway.
Source class
Peer-reviewed research
Role in BOL
Supporting
Population context
Older or clinical population
Evidence basis
Objectively measured or experimentally assessed
Comparator
Structured, intensive lifestyle intervention versus active, lower-intensity self-guided support
Endpoint
Two-year change in global cognition
Important null or boundary finding
Global cognition improved in both intervention groups.
Source record checked 26 July 2026.