Lifestyle Changes Can Improve Brain Functioning, According to Study led by FSU Professor Ruth Remington

Lifestyle Changes Can Improve Brain Functioning, According to Study led by FSU Professor Ruth Remington

Oct 1, 2015

Framingham State Professor Ruth Remington, her colleague Tom Shea from UMass Lowell, and members of their research team, have published findings from a study that add to a growing body of evidence that lifestyle modification can help maintain brain power as we age.

The study examined 34 individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment, which is characterized by cognitive decline beyond that anticipated for an individual’s age. Approximately half of those diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment are eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Half of the people in the study were provided with a “Nutraceutical Formulation” made up of six vitamins and nutraceuticals and half were provided with a placebo. Individuals receiving the formulation demonstrated improved memory within three months and maintained that improvement over the course of one year. Individual’s receiving the placebo did not improve. However, after six months the individuals receiving the placebo were provided with the formulation, after which they demonstrated improvement.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that a healthy lifestyle that includes nutrition, as well as exercise, social activity, and mental exercise can help maintain our brain power as we age,” says Dr. Remington.

The results of the study, which is titled “A Nutritional Formulation for Cognitive Performance in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Placebo-Controlled Trial with an Open-Label Extension,” are being published in the September issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

These new findings confirm the team’s multiple phase I and phase II studies, published from 2008-2015, in which this formulation improved memory and cognitive performance for individuals without memory difficulties, and improved cognitive performance and mood for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. These findings add to a growing body of knowledge that positive lifestyle modifications can help maintain our mental capacity as we age.

These clinical trials were funded by a grant to Remington and Shea from the Alzheimer’s Association. The research team included investigators from Framingham State: Cynthia Bechtel, Robert Page and Annmarie Samar - and others from the University of Maryland, Loyola University and private clinics across the U.S.

Citation
Remington, Ruth et al. “A Nutritional Formulation for Cognitive Performance in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Placebo-Controlled Trial with an Open-Label Extension.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 48:3 (2015): doi: 10.3233/JAD-150057.

About Framingham State University

Framingham State University was founded in 1839 as the nation’s first public university for the education of teachers. Since that time, it has evolved into a vibrant, comprehensive liberal arts institution offering small, personalized classes on a beautiful New England campus. Today, the University enrolls more than 6,000 students with 58 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences and professional fields. As a State College and University (SCU), Framingham State prides itself on quality academic programs, affordability, and commitment to access for all qualified students.