Overview
- The LatAm FINGERS trial, reported in The Lancet and presented at AAIC, found on Tuesday that participants given a structured multidomain program had a 55% greater improvement in global cognition than those who received general health recommendations.
- The randomized study enrolled 1,065 adults aged 60–77 across 11 Latin American countries and tested a program combining supervised exercise, an adapted MIND diet, cardiovascular risk control, cognitive training and social activities.
- Adherence and retention were strong: 82.3% of participants completed two years and the structured arm averaged 71.6% adherence, with lower dropout in the intensive group than in the recommendation group.
- Investigators noted an unexpected improvement in both arms and explained there was no untreated control for ethical reasons because all participants received at least periodic healthy‑living guidance.
- Participants will be followed for four more years to see whether gains persist without intensive support and to determine whether the regionally adapted, low‑cost model can be translated into public health programs that change how older adults are cared for.