The FINGER Study: How Lifestyle Can Prevent Cognitive Decline

Dementia and cognitive decline — the loss of memory and thinking skills — are serious challenges for people as they get older. Many scientists once thought that there was little people could do to prevent Dementia. But a major research study called FINGER has given new hope. It showed that changes in everyday habits can help protect the brain and slow down cognitive decline in older adults.

What Is the FINGER Study?

The FINGER study stands for the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability. It was a long-term research trial that began in 2009 in Finland and brought together scientists from universities and research institutes in Finland and Sweden. The main goal was to test whether lifestyle changes could help protect older adults’ brains.

The study involved about 1,260 participants between the ages of 60 and 77, all of whom were at an increased risk for Dementia but did not yet have major memory problems. They were chosen from the general community and were randomly placed into two groups: one that received special lifestyle support and another that received regular health advice.

What Did Participants Do?

The group that received the intervention took part in a multifaceted lifestyle program that focused on several areas of life important for brain health. This means that rather than changing just one thing — like diet or exercise — the program helped people improve several types of habits at once.

Here’s what participants in the intervention group did:

• Nutrition Guidance: They followed a healthy eating plan based on Nordic nutrition recommendations. This included lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats.

• Physical Activity: Participants were encouraged to do regular exercise, including cardiovascular (heart-healthy) activities, strength training, and balance exercises.

• Cognitive Training: They did brain exercises designed to keep memory, thinking speed, and problem-solving skills sharp.

• Management of Health Risks: Their cardiovascular health — like blood pressure, glucose (sugar), and cholesterol — was regularly monitored and managed.

• Social Engagement: Group activities and trainings naturally encouraged social interaction, which is linked to better mental health.

In contrast, the control group received standard health advice that people normally get from health care providers.

What Did the FINGER Study Find?

After two years, researchers measured participants’ cognitive function — how well they could think, remember, and solve problems — using a detailed test called the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB). Here’s what they found:

• The group that followed the lifestyle program showed about 25% greater improvement in overall cognition.

When breaking it down by skill type:

• Executive Function, which helps with planning and decision-making, improved much more in the lifestyle group.

• Processing Speed, how fast someone can think and respond, improved significantly more too.

• Complex memory tasks also showed greater improvement in the lifestyle group compared with the control group.

These results show that multiple healthy behaviors together worked better to support brain health than regular health advice alone.

Why the FINGER Study Matters

The FINGER study was one of the first large clinical trials to show that lifestyle changes can prevent or delay cognitive decline in people at risk for Dementia. It changed the way scientists think about brain aging because it proved that regular habits — not just medicine — can help protect the brain.

Because of its success, researchers around the world are now creating new studies based on the FINGER model, sometimes called the World-Wide FINGERS Network. These follow-up studies are testing similar programs in different countries and cultures to see if the results hold true for more people.

The findings are powerful because they suggest that it is possible to take action against cognitive decline, even later in life. Healthy lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk of Dementia and improve thinking skills in older age.

What This Means for You

The FINGER study teaches us that our day-to-day choices — like eating well, staying physically active, exercising our minds, watching our blood pressure, and staying socially connected — are all part of keeping our brains healthier as we age. These ideas don’t require medicines. They’re things that almost anyone can start doing with the right support and information.

Here are reliable sources where you can read more:

• Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study (official project page) — fbhi.se: overview and results. (FBHI - FINGERS Brain Health Institute)

• Original FINGER trial published in The Lancet (2015) — randomized controlled trial. (The Lancet)

• THL research project page on FINGER including intervention details. (THL)

• World-Wide FINGERS Network review on global impact and future studies. (ScienceDirect)

---

Disclaimer: Dementia Society of America (DSA) provides educational content only and does not offer medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your medical care. DSA content is created by both human and computer-generated means and is reviewed for accuracy; however, errors may occur. Views expressed by third-party contributors do not necessarily reflect those of DSA. Unless expressly stated, DSA does not endorse or guarantee any third-party products, services, organizations, or external content. All DSA content is copyrighted and/or trademarked and may not be used without written permission.