Dan Jones, a 56-year-old bagpiper, saw his future vanish with an early dementia diagnosis. Then, radical lifestyle changes not only stopped the decline, but he also played in a parade again. His story isn't magic; it's science offering real hope for our brains.
This post is based on an article published in The Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2025. To read the full story, click here .
Why it matters
You can change your brain's aging trajectory. Research confirms that specific lifestyle changes can significantly improve brain function and cognition, even in early Alzheimer's patients, challenging the notion of inevitable decline.
By the numbers
- In a 2024 study, 71% of early Alzheimer's patients making intensive lifestyle changes stabilized or improved cognition after just 4.5 months.
- 0% improved in the control group; 68% got worse.
- New dementia cases in the US are projected to double to ~1 million annually by 2060.
Jones eats a plant-based diet low in refined carbs and sugars. Photo: The Wall Street Journal, 7/3/2025.
What to know
The lifestyle prescription Dan Jones took:
- Diet: Whole-food, plant-based. Minimally processed. Low refined carbs/sugars. (Goodbye roast beef, ice cream).
- Exercise: Increased regular activity.
- Stress: Daily meditation.
- Support: Regular group meetings.
Reality check: The study was small (51 people), making broad conclusions tricky. But the difference between groups was distinct.
What to know
Even small efforts help (healthy people, too!).
- A separate 2024 study found just 25 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per week linked to bigger brain size in healthy individuals, a key health marker.
- Expert verdict: “Lifestyle matters,” says Harvard neurology professor Rudolph Tanzi.
The takeaway
The earlier you act, the better your results.
“The earlier you intervene, the less intensive the changes likely need to be,” says study leader Dr. Dean Ornish. Dan Jones agrees: “I would have made the changes a lot earlier.”
More exercise has improved Jones' health. Photo: The Wall Street Journal, 7/3/2025.
The bottom line
Your daily choices—food, movement, stress, sleep—are powerful medicine for your brain. While new brain-aging tests offer insights, focus on proven lifestyle modifications first. It's never too early, or too late, to invest in your brain's future.
Treating hearing loss lowers the risk of dementia
Learn about the health of your hearing with a free 15-minute hearing screening by an audiologist.
★ Call 708-599-9500 to schedule your free screening.
★ For facts about hearing loss and hearing aid options, grab your copy of The Hearing Loss Guide.
★ Sign up for our newsletter for the latest on Hearing aids, dementia triggered by hearing loss, pediatric speech and hearing, speech-language therapies, Parkinson's Voice therapies, and occupational-hearing conservation. We publish our newsletter eight times a year.
Don't let untreated hearing loss spoil your future life.
Crest Hill, IL - 630-633-5060 | Palos Hills, IL - 708-599-9500
