The Alzheimer's Association released its annual report Tuesday, presenting survey findings on brain health attitudes among adults 40 and older alongside results from the U.S. POINTER lifestyle intervention trial. The report drew on a survey of more than 3,800 adults aged 40 and older, conducted in partnership with the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.

According to the survey, 99% of respondents indicated that brain health is at least as important as physical health, and about 88% said maintaining brain health is "very important." However, only 9% said they knew "a lot" about how to maintain brain health, and 38% correctly identified midlife, defined as ages 35 to 64, as an ideal time to take steps to preserve brain health.

The survey also measured lifestyle habits among respondents. Fifty percent reported getting at least seven hours of sleep most nights, 42% reported adequate mental stimulation, 39% consistently followed a healthy diet, and 34% were physically active most days.

The report included results from the U.S. POINTER study, a randomized controlled trial that examined the effects of lifestyle changes on the brain health of more than 2,100 people at high risk of cognitive decline. Both the self-guided group and the structured intervention group showed improved cognitive function after two years. Compared with the self-guided group, people who had structured interventions, including prescribed diet and exercise regimens, demonstrated cognitive scores similar to those of people up to two years younger.

Dementia risk is partly determined by genetics, and research has linked variants of a gene called APOE to an increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. "Genes are not your destiny," said Kellyann Niotis, a preventive neurologist and clinical assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

The Alzheimer's Association lists 10 healthy habits that can lower the risk of cognitive decline: challenging your mind, staying in school, getting moving, protecting your head, being smoke-free, controlling your blood pressure, managing diabetes, eating right, maintaining a healthy weight and sleeping well. The association conducted the survey in partnership with the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.