A two-year randomised controlled trial published in The Lancet has found that a structured, multidomain lifestyle programme produced significantly greater improvements in cognition than a basic health advice programme, in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. The trial, called LatAm-FINGERS, followed 1,065 participants aged 60 to 77 across 12 sites in 11 Latin American countries, funded by the Alzheimer's Association and reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on 6 September 2026. Participants were split into two groups: 539 received an intensive, coached intervention combining structured exercise, a modified MIND-diet nutrition plan, cognitive training and social activities such as group dance sessions, while 526 received periodic health education with minimal ongoing support. Researchers measured change in a composite score of global cognition, alongside memory, executive function and processing speed, over the two-year period.
What the trial found
The structured intervention group showed a 55% greater improvement on the composite cognition measure than the basic-advice group, according to the Alzheimer's Association International Conference summary reported by ScienceDaily. Gains were also seen in memory, executive function and processing speed. The trial is part of the World-Wide FINGERS network, which runs parallel harmonised lifestyle trials in multiple regions, including the US POINTER study. As a single-blind trial with an active but lower-intensity comparison group rather than a no-treatment control, the design does not establish which individual component of the programme, exercise, diet, cognitive training or social contact, drove the result, and it does not yet show whether the cognitive gains persist once the structured coaching stops.
What this means for your supplement routine
The trial tested a supervised, multi-component coaching programme, not a supplement, and the researchers did not test any single nutrient in isolation. For UK readers already taking a daily vitamin D, omega-3 or B-complex as part of a wider routine, the relevant takeaway is that the combination of activity, diet quality and social engagement appears to matter more than any single input; readers comparing their own routine against the full range of options can browse the vitamins and minerals range for context on what is available.
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Perqen members pay £4.99 a month or £29.99 a year for reduced pricing across the full catalogue, including the vitamin D, omega-3 and B-complex products readers most commonly buy alongside a healthy-ageing routine. Details are on the membership page.
This article reports published news and research and is for information only. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet or medical care, and no product mentioned is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before changing what you take, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking prescribed medicines.