Alzheimer’s PREVENTION Mid-Trial Results Published
Lifestyle and Medical Management Boosts Brain Blood Flow and Reduces Diabetes Risk in Early Alzheimer’s Disease, PREVENTION Mid-Trial Findings Reveal.
New research underscores the power of personalized, multi-modal interventions in slowing key biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. These findings build on the national US POINTER trial by bringing a clinically delivered, multidomain lifestyle program to patients with confirmed Alzheimer’s-related brain changes.
January 7, 2026, Santa Monica, CA – Researchers at the Pacific Brain Health Center and Providence Saint John’s Health Center have published new findings in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease showing that a structured, multidomain lifestyle and medical support program can improve biological markers linked to brain health in individuals with early cognitive impairment and underlying Alzheimer’s-related brain changes.
PREVENTION Mid-Trial Results
The study, part of the PREVENTION clinical trial, found that participants who received personalized coaching, structured exercise, nutrition guidance, supplementation, and medical management showed improvements in cerebral blood flow and insulin resistance compared with those receiving standard medical care and recommendations alone.
This work builds on the landmark 2025 US POINTER Study, which demonstrated that intensive lifestyle interventions can support cognitive health in older adults at risk for cognitive decline. While US POINTER focused on individuals at risk based on lifestyle and health factors, the PREVENTION trial extends this approach into a clinical care setting and includes individuals with cognitive symptoms who also show Alzheimer’s disease brain changes, specifically those positive for amyloid.
“US POINTER showed that lifestyle change can meaningfully support brain health in a diverse US population,” said Jennifer Bramen, PhD, Director of Neuroimaging Research Core at Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation and Senior Clinical Research Scientist at Saint John’s Cancer Institute. “Our study builds on that foundation by evaluating a similar multidomain approach in a clinical environment and in individuals who already show both cognitive changes and Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes. This allows us to examine whether lifestyle interventions can influence brain biology even after symptoms have begun.”
Tracking Blood Flow in the Brain
Using advanced MRI techniques, researchers measured cerebral blood flow, a key indicator of brain health that is often reduced in neurodegenerative conditions. Participants in the active intervention group showed improved blood flow in brain regions linked to metabolic and vascular health and to Alzheimer’s disease. Higher adherence to the program was associated with greater benefits, including lower diabetes risk, an important contributor to cognitive decline.
Although these findings represent an interim analysis, they highlight the potential for clinically delivered, coached lifestyle programs to positively influence biological processes relevant to neurodegeneration. Ongoing analyses will further examine long-term outcomes and cognitive effects.
About the PREVENTION Trial
Led by David Merrill, MD, PhD, and Dr. Bramen, the PREVENTION trial is a randomized, controlled clinical study conducted at the Pacific Brain Health Center that evaluates the impact of a multimodal lifestyle and medical support program on brain health in individuals with early cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease-related brain changes. The intervention integrates personalized coaching, structured physical activity, nutrition guidance, and supplementation with standard medical care.
About Pacific Brain Health Center
The Brain Health Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute is a nationally recognized program dedicated to early detection, biomarker-guided care, and multidomain interventions for cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disease.
For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Bramen.
About Dr. Jennifer Bramen
Jennifer Bramen, PhD, is a neuroscientist with expertise in neuroscience research, advanced neuroimaging, and non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive decline. With a passion for bridging the gap between translational research and clinical implementation, she is the Director of the Neuroimaging (Research) Core at Pacific Neuroscience Institute where the memory research program integrates with the Pacific Brain Health Center, an outpatient dementia care clinic and center of excellence at PNI that partners with the Providence Health system.
About Dr. David Merrill
David A. Merrill, MD, PhD, is a double-board certified adult and geriatric psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He is director of the Pacific Brain Health Center at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute. His practice, educational, and research activity focus on the Precision Brain Health Program , applying precision medicine approaches to optimize brain aging in middle-aged and older adults at risk for and with neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s (PD).
Related Article:
Early PREVENTION trial results – July 2025