Can Lifestyle Changes Reverse Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease

Lifestyle Intervention for Early Alzheimer's Disease

The objective of this study is to determine if comprehensive lifestyle changes may slow, stop, or reverse the progression of early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

51 patients who have early Alzheimer's disease (MoCA above 17) in the San Francisco Bay area were enrolled over time and are randomly assigned to one of two groups.

After baseline testing, the first group then receives this lifestyle medicine program for 20 weeks, four hours/day, three days/week (all done virtually via Zoom since March 2020 due to COVID-19).

The second group will not receive the lifestyle program for 20 weeks and will serve as a randomized control group during this phase of the study.

Both groups will be re-tested after 20 weeks.

Then, the second group will "cross over" and receive this lifestyle medicine program for 20 weeks and the first group will continue the lifestyle program for 20 additional weeks. After a total of 40 weeks, both groups will be re-tested again and compared. Those initially randomly assigned to the control group will receive the intervention for 40 weeks and then be re-tested at that time.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current diagnosis of mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease/process (McKhann and Albert criteria), with MoCA score above 17 (i.e., 18 or higher)
• Willingness and ability to participate in all aspects of the intervention
• Availability of spouse or caregiver who can provide collateral information and assist with study adherence

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe dementia
• physical disability that precludes regular exercise
• clear evidence for other causes of neurodegeneration or dementia, e.g., severe cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson's disease
• significant ongoing psychiatric or substance abuse problems