Sharper thinking in older age
- Published in
- Am J Clin Nutr 2014
- People studied
- 107
In a one-year trial of 107 older adults with obesity and frailty, diet, exercise or both improved thinking test scores more than in the control group.
- Checked against
- PubMed 24787497
- Published in
- Am J Clin Nutr 2014
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
107 older adults with obesity and frailty were randomly assigned to a weight-loss diet, exercise, both, or a control group for one year. Scores on a general thinking test and on weight-related quality of life improved more in all three programme groups than in the control group. Diet plus exercise improved more than diet alone, but not more than exercise alone.
At a glance
- Type of study
- randomised trial with four groups
- People studied
- 107
- How long
- 1 year
- Compared with
- a control group
- Main result
- Thinking scores and quality of life improved more than in the control group.
- Strength of evidence
- Randomised trials
What this study does not show
A small trial in older adults with frailty, and these results were not the trial's main question. Exercise alone did as well as diet plus exercise, so the gains are not down to weight loss alone, and mood scores did not change.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on brain and mood
- Fewer depression symptomsRandomised trials · Rubin et al., Diabetes Care 2014
- Small gains in memoryLong-term or observational studies · Siervo et al., Obes Rev 2011
- Better mental quality of lifeRandomised trials · Jones et al., Obes Rev 2021
- Sharper thinking in older ageRandomised trials · Napoli et al., Am J Clin Nutr 2014
- Fewer low moods on a lower-calorie dietRandomised trials · Paris et al., Adv Nutr 2024
- Better body imageLong-term or observational studies · Chao, PLoS One 2015
- More energy and better mental healthRandomised trials · Imayama et al., Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2011
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