The Effects of a Hungarian Multidomain Lifestyle Intervention on Brain Health in Older Adults

Maintaining brain health in older adults is a critical social and economic challenge given the rising prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders. Despite extensive research, effective pharmacological treatments for dementia remain limited, emphasising the need for early diagnosis and prevention of cognitive decline. Research suggests that lifestyle and modifiable factors account for approximately 40% of dementia risk, highlighting the potential of personalised lifestyle interventions to delay or prevent the onset of dementia. The original FINGER study demonstrated that a multi-domain lifestyle intervention simultaneously targeting dietary habits, physical and cognitive activity, as well as social interactions can effectively prevent cognitive decline and dementia. The HUN-MLI-BRAIN trial investigates the impact of a Hungarian lifestyle intervention on brain health in older adults and is based on the FINGER multi-domain intervention. This randomised controlled study aims to maintain and enhance neurocognitive function and prevent cognitive decline in older adults through a multi-domain lifestyle program, which simultaneously targets dietary habits, physical and cognitive activity, and social engagement. The primary goal of the HUN-MLI-BRAIN trial is to evaluate the impact of the intervention programme on neurocognitive functions and adaptive changes in large-scale brain networks at the individual level using the precision structural and functional MRI methods as well as resting-state EEG frequency-domain analyses. In addition, the influence of the intervention will be assessed in a wide range of cognitive and personal domains. The potential relationship between brain structure and function, cognitive performance, lifestyle factors, and dementia risk factors will be evaluated. 80 people without substantial cognitive impairment or dementia will be recruited into the programme in Budapest, Hungary. Participants will be randomly allocated 1:1 either to the multi-domain