Akshay Kumar downplays romancing Wamiqa Gabbi, 32, in Bhooth Bangla, Priyadarshan says 'actor's screen age is different'Apart from Akshay Kumar, Bhoot Bangla director Priyadarshan also addressed the age-gap, emphasising that he sees no issue with it. Mar 25, 2026
CoinDCX promoters Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal, arrested in a ₹71.6 lakh fraud case, were granted bail by a Thane court. The duo was accused of cheating an insurance advisor with false cryptocurrency investment and franchise promises. Their defense argued mistaken identity
Jewar Airport latest update: IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India Express confirm flight operations, expected routes, and launch timeline for Noida International Airport. The upcoming Noida International Airport in Jewar is set to emerge as a major aviation hub for North India
Energy-related infrastructure in Iran’s Isfahan province and the southwestern city of Khorramshahr has been struck, according to Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency. The reported attacks come a day after US President Donald Trump announced a pause by extending his deadline for Iran to halt
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is set to get underway on March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Begaluru facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. With a fresh stack of players across all 10 franchise following the mini-auction process from last
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association makes a compelling case that a healthy lifestyle does an aging brain good. That might sound obvious. Eat well, exercise, challenge yourself mentally, have an active social life and you'll be better off for it. Yet researchers are just starting to offer concrete data to support the theory that making conscientious lifestyle changes can lower the risk of dementia, which is estimated to affect some 6 million Americans.
Healthy Living Helps the Aging Brain
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association makes a compelling case that a healthy lifestyle does an aging brain good.
That might sound obvious. Eat well, exercise, challenge yourself mentally, have an active social life and you'll be better off for it. Yet researchers are just starting to offer concrete data to support the theory that making conscientious lifestyle changes can lower the risk of dementia, which is estimated to affect some 6 million Americans.
But the message that people have some agency over their brain health must be paired with another one: They need help. Changing deeply ingrained habits is hard. However, the research suggests that building a supportive community around individuals could significantly improve their chances for success.
The so-called “POINTER” trial enrolled more than 2,000 participants in their 60s and 70s, all of whom were at risk for dementia. Researchers followed the volunteers over two years as they embarked on lifestyle changes. The participants had a lot of room for improvement; none of them exercised regularly, and they all had poor diets.
The volunteers were divided into two groups: One set its own priorities, while the other took part in a highly structured program that included regular exercise, a specific diet, computer-based brain games, social activities and community support.
Remarkably, participants in both groups saw significant improvements in their cognitive health. But the group that received the more intensive intervention held back the aging clock by even more, says Laura Baker, a gerontologist at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and a principal investigator of the study.
This large trial gives weight to a growing body of work underscoring the connection between lifestyle and cognitive health. That link was highlighted in a study commissioned by The Lancet that found nearly half of all dementia cases worldwide could be delayed or attenuated by focusing on specific aspects of our health. The Lancet team identified more than a dozen risk factors, including hearing and vision loss, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, social isolation and exposure to air pollution.
There are caveats to the new findings. In an accompanying editorial, Jonathan Schott, a neurologist at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, raised the question of whether the modest difference in benefit between the two groups was enough to justify the cost of the more rigorous intervention in a real-world setting. He also noted that further research needs to be done to determine whether improvements in brain health are sustained over time — and whether they ultimately lead to a lower incidence of dementia and a better quality of life.
Answers to some of those questions are hopefully coming soon. In December, researchers will report some data from a series of side studies conducted as part of the trial, examining how various lifestyle interventions affected factors such as sleep, vascular health, gut health and markers of Alzheimer's disease in the brain. Meanwhile, the research team is following the participants for another four years to see whether folks stick with the changes they made — and determine whether even a temporary intervention can have longer-term benefits for brain health.
But even before we have more data, enough evidence exists to suggest that it's long past time to give older folks more support as they age. It's not enough for doctors to give people a to-do list and hope they follow through. “Just because you have the prescription, doesn't mean you can do it,” Baker says. People who are at risk of dementia are struggling for a reason, she says, and they both need and deserve help.
The community support offered to the group that saw the most benefit in the POINTER trial was a crucial component of their success. “The whole investigator team feels like if you were to cut out the social component, we would have nothing to report,” she says. “We're asking people to create new habits,” and that's hard to do on your own.
Phyllis Jones, a 66-year-old from Aurora, Illinois, who was part of the structured intervention group, said the peer support has given her a community and purpose. “I gained a network of incredible people — friends, mentors, and fellow advocates,” she told reporters at a conference in Toronto where the results were unveiled. The effect of the intervention was so profound — she lowered her blood sugar and cholesterol, lost weight and relieved joint pain — that she now refers to herself as “Phyllis-BP” (Before POINTER) and “Phyllis-AP” (After POINTER).
The question, of course, is how to recreate what Jones and others experienced within the confines of a rigorous clinical trial for older adults living in the real world. Their exact intensive program is likely to be impractical and too expensive to replicate. Moreover, the kind of community network that is embraced by one city might fall flat in another. To that end, the Alzheimer's Association — which has already invested $50 million in the study — is in the process of awarding grants to 10 cities, including the five that were in the initial trial, to understand how community-based support could work within local health care systems.
Jones's experience also highlights the importance of helping people take charge of their health as they age. Both her mother and grandmother had dementia, and she believes the trial has sparked a generational shift in behavior. “This program has transformed not only my attitudes and behaviors towards brain health, but also those of my daughter,” and in turn her granddaughter, she says.
That seems like an investment worth making.
More From Bloomberg Opinion:
This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Lisa Jarvis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, health care and the pharmaceutical industry. Previously, she was executive editor of Chemical & Engineering News.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion
©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Source: LiveMint
Related Posts: Decoding Rocket Health’s AI Voice Journal Bloomberg Green’s Guide to Climate Week NYC Himesh Reshammiya becomes the only Indian on Bloomberg’s global pop power list Latin American literature contains warnings for American universities that yield to Donald Trump American drought to American dream American moves to Germany to study medicine Final voter list to be published on February 21 Helldivers 2 Becomes First PlayStation-Published Game to Launch on Xbox Draft electoral rolls published NEET PG Answer Key 2025 to be published shortly
A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Asiya Andrabi to life imprisonment, PTI reported. Andrabi, alleged to be the founder and chief of the banned all-women separatist group Dukhtaraan-e-Millat, and two of her associates had been convicted under the Unlawful Activities
5 hours ago
Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge has sparked fresh buzz after viewers realised that the character Pinda is inspired by real-life drug dealer and militant Rinda. This detail is now being widely discussed as fans connect the film’s story with real events
5 hours ago
IndiGo warns of demand hit as Iran war drives up flight ticket pricesIndiGo's warnings come even as an escalating Iran war continues to rattle global crude oil markets and complicates flight paths. Published on: Mar 24, 2026 5:13 PM IST By HT Business Desk Share via Copy link IndiGo has warned that
5 hours ago
Losing stubborn belly fat isn’t just about cutting calories, but it’s about choosing the right kind of movement. The fat stored around your abdomen, especially visceral fat, is closely linked to metabolism and overall health. The good news is that you don’t need hours in the gym
5 hours ago
And so the long goodbye begins for the 'Egyptian King' - undoubtedly, one of the greatest footballers the Premier League has ever seen. Mohamed Salah has worn the Liverpool shirt 435 times across all competitions. At most, he will get the opportunity up to 15 more times between now and the end of
5 hours ago
At his factory in Visakhapatnam, Sanjeev Relhan produces surgical gowns and protective gear that doctors and nurses routinely use in hospitals while handling an infectious patient or for a surgery. Usually, Relhan sells gowns to hospitals for Rs 80 a piece. In the last few days
5 hours ago
Kerala Police asks X to remove posts related to ECI document with BJP sealKerala Police on Tuesday issued notices to social media users and asked platform X to remove posts related to an Election Commission of India (ECI) document that carried the seal of the BJP Published on: Mar 25
5 hours ago
JICA is eager to partner with India on semiconductor and new energy initiatives. The agency plans to invest JPY 275 billion this year, a significant increase from last year's JPY 191 billion. JICA's chief representative, Takeuchi Takuro, highlighted semiconductor manufacturing and biogas as key
5 hours ago
One minute, he’s catching heat for a quiet cameo in the Madrid derby. And the next, he’s at the centre of a bizarre controversy that’s got France and Spain pointing fingers — and Real Madrid sweating. Mbappe’s substitute appearance against Atletico Madrid didn’t exactly wow anyone
5 hours ago
Premier League’s edge blunted as La Liga continues to dictate tempo and control in Champions League Updated on: Mar 25, 2026 6:08 AM IST By Aditya Maheshwari Share via Copy link Premier League may be the most competitive, but La Liga’s technical edge outclasses it in the UEFA Champions League
5 hours ago
Once operational, will Jewar International Airport in Noida, likely to be inaugurated on March 28, be India’s largest airport? There is understandable confusion around this claim. But the short answer is — not yet. But it could be India’s largest airport in the future
5 hours ago
If you cancel between 24 hours and 8 hours before the journey, 50% of your ticket fare will be cut, along with the minimum applicable charge. The Indian Railways has made some major changes to its ticket cancellation fee. From now on, if you cancel your ticket between 24 to 72 hours before the
5 hours ago
Globally, tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death and according to the World Health Organization, over 10.7 million people fell ill with TB in 2024, with more than 1.25 million deaths recorded globally. Despite decades of medical advances
5 hours ago
A tarot reader predicts financial growth for these 5 zodiac signs before March 2026 ends. Here’s whyMarch 2026 Horoscope: According to a tarot reader, Manisha Koushik, a few zodiac signs may experience financial progress before the month ends. Published on: Mar 25
5 hours ago
From April 1, 2026, filing your income tax return (ITR) is set to undergo a significant transformation. With the new Income-tax Rules, 2026 coming into effect, the government is not just tweaking forms—it is reshaping how income, tax and deductions are reported across the system.From April 1
5 hours ago
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to withdraw the temporary fare caps on domestic airfares starting today (March 23). New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to withdraw the temporary fare caps on domestic airfares starting today (March 23)
5 hours ago
22-year-old UK woman lands job in Bengaluru, asks if relocating to India is safeThe woman shared that she is also worried about feeling lonely in a new country if she decides to move from the UK to India. Published on: Mar 25, 2026 6:10 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A 22-year-old
5 hours ago
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed by voice vote the 2026 Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Amendment Bill. The bill will now be moved to the Rajya Sabha. If cleared by the Upper House of Parliament, it will be sent for presidential assent. Introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 13
5 hours ago
Opposition parties are carefully responding to a government proposal to speed up the Women's Reservation Act. They are not opposing it directly but are requesting an all-party meeting. This meeting is proposed to take place after the upcoming assembly elections conclude
5 hours ago
Apex court issued broad directions to correct past injustices and to guarantee equal opportunities in the future. In a landmark judgment stregthening gender equality in the armed forces, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers are entitled to Permanent
5 hours ago
HDFC Bank has appointed domestic law firms Wadia Ghandy and Trilegal, along with a leading US-based firm, to review the circumstances surrounding former chairman Atanu Chakraborty’s abrupt resignation, according to a report by The Economic Times (ET), citing people familiar with the matter
5 hours ago
Singer-rapper Badshah has reportedly tied the knot with Punjabi actress and model Isha Rikhi. Recently, Isha’s mother, Poonam, took to her Instagram handle and shared a series of pictures which suggest that the two are now married. In the photos
5 hours ago
Malaika Arora, in a recent interview, mentioned that she is a massive fan of two Thai dishes. She spoke about her love for green Thai curry rice and mango sticky rice and went on to share how she makes these dishes at home. Green Thai curry or Gaeng Khiao Wan is a fragrant coconut milk-based dish
5 hours ago
Delays in visa appointment scheduling are affecting not only H-1B visa holders but also H-4 dependents, L-1/L-2 employees, and F-1 students. After arriving in India in December, holders with H-1B visas are now ‘stranded in their home country’
5 hours ago
Thousands of Malayalees return home from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf states during election seasons to exercise their franchise. Expatriate groups even arrange chartered flights for their members to travel. This year this crowd would have been bigger
5 hours ago
Nandini, the dairy brand of Karnataka Milk Federation, will be the Official Dairy Partner for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2026 IPL season. This partnership unites two prominent Karnataka-based brands. The collaboration aims to connect with passionate RCB fans
5 hours ago
On March 19, Ras Laffan, the largest liquified natural gas terminal in the world, supplying one-fifth of the world’s super-chilled fuel, was hit by Iranian missiles and drones. The Qatari terminal suffered substantial damage in the strikes – fires were raging across the gas-to-liquids facility
5 hours ago
