U.S. POINTER Study | Alzheimer’s Association

The Kelsey Research Foundation (KRF) is pleased to announce that recruitment for the two-year clinical trial for U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER) was successfully completed on April 13, 2023. Nationally, there were 2,111 participants enrolled in the study at five research centers located in Winston-Salem, NC; Sacramento, CA; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; and Providence, RI. The U.S. POINTER study compared two lifestyle interventions of varying intensity and format. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two interventions. The studies goal was to evaluate whether the cognitive benefits from the self-guided intervention differ from those of the structured intervention. The ultimate hope is to use the information gathered from the study to reduce cognitive decline and protect brain health. The U.S. POINTER population includes people from a wide range of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds. Of the 2,111 randomized participants, 31% identify as people of color, and 31% are men. The Houston site recruited a total of 455 participants - 45.4% being participants of color.

KRF was proud to partner with Baylor College of Medicine as well as Alzheimer’s Association of Houston and Southeast Texas on this impactful study.

The study hopes to have results available to the public in July 2025.

introducing the POINTER alumni extension study

Building on the success of U.S. POINTER, the POINTER Alumni Extension Study was created to explore the long-term impact of lifestyle interventions on brain health. This phase allows former U.S. POINTER participants to continue engaging in the healthy habits they developed during the study while further examining their sustained effects on cognitive function. The extension study also aims to expand community access to these scientifically supported lifestyle programs, helping more people adopt brain-healthy habits for life. Please contact Arely Perez for more information.

POINTER Alumni Extension 2024 events: