Scientists at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, have found that a simple 14-day program that incorporates basic lifestyle changes can significantly enhance a person's brain function and memory.

The research was led by Gary Small, M.D., UCLA professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

The researchers randomly assigned 17 adults ages 35 to 70 with normal memories to one of two groups. The first group went on living life as usual, changing nothing. The experimental group was subjected to a simple memory-facilitation regimen. Prior to doing anything, all 17 adults received PET (positron emission tomography) scans to measure brain activity and function.

Over the course of the study, the experimental group committed to four basic changes in lifestyle. First, the subjects underwent brain-stimulating memory training that included verbal exercises, brainteasers and crossword puzzles. Second, they ate five light, balanced, healthy meals (high in whole grains and vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds and foods rich in antioxidants) each day. Third, they took brisk daily walks. And finally, they were taught stretching and relaxation exercises designed to reduce stress.

When the two weeks were up, both groups received a second round of PET scans. The tests, say the researchers, showed a 5-percent decrease in metabolism among those in the experimental group in a region of the brain linked to memory and cognition. That metabolic slowdown, they say, is a sign of increased functional efficiency. The subjects' brains, in other words, were working better.

"We've known for years that diet and exercise can help people maintain their physical health, which is a key component of healthy aging," Small says. "But maintaining mental health is just as important. Now we have evidence which suggests that people can preserve their memory by adding memory exercises and stress reduction to this routine."

Small and his colleagues are particularly intrigued by their results because the improvements were seen in just two weeks. They wonder what might happen if the daily routines were incorporated over the course of a lifetime. They say a simple change in lifestyle could potentially not only improve memory, but also prevent or delay age-associated dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of elderly in the United States is expected to double to 70 million - or one in every five U.S. citizens - by 2030. Health experts say that while the risk of disease and disability increase with age, poor health among seniors is not an inevitable fact of life. Healthy habits such as regular medical checkups, daily physical activity, eating well and avoiding known killers like tobacco have all been shown to increase a person's chances of living well into old age.

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