Multidomain lifestyle intervention benefits a large elderly population at risk for cognitive decline and dementia regardless of baseline characteristics: The FINGER trial

Alzheimers Dement. 2018 Mar;14(3):263-270. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.09.006. Epub 2017 Oct 19.

Abstract

Introduction: The 2-year Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) multidomain lifestyle intervention trial (NCT01041989) demonstrated beneficial effects on cognition. We investigated whether sociodemographics, socioeconomic status, baseline cognition, or cardiovascular factors influenced intervention effects on cognition.

Methods: The FINGER recruited 1260 people from the general Finnish population (60-77 years, at risk for dementia). Participants were randomized 1:1 to multidomain intervention (diet, exercise, cognition, and vascular risk management) and regular health advice. Primary outcome was change in cognition (Neuropsychological Test Battery z-score). Prespecified analyses to investigate whether participants' characteristics modified response to intervention were carried out using mixed-model repeated-measures analyses.

Results: Sociodemographics (sex, age, and education), socioeconomic status (income), cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination), cardiovascular factors (body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting glucose, and overall cardiovascular risk), and cardiovascular comorbidity did not modify response to intervention (P-values for interaction > .05).

Conclusions: The FINGER intervention was beneficial regardless of participants' characteristics and can thus be implemented in a large elderly population at increased risk for dementia.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Intervention; Lifestyle; Multidomain; Prevention; Randomized controlled trial.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / epidemiology
  • Cognitive Dysfunction / prevention & control*
  • Dementia / epidemiology
  • Dementia / prevention & control*
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Female
  • Healthy Lifestyle*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Treatment Outcome