David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

Is It Too Late to Protect Your Brain?| Dr. David Perlmutter

5 Oct 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief presentation, Dr. David Perlmutter addresses adults in their 70s and 80s who wonder whether it is too late to take steps to protect their brain health. He emphatically states that it is not too late, citing two major multidomain lifestyle intervention trials—the 2014 FINGER trial and the more recent POINTER study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Both trials involved participants at risk for cognitive decline (e.g., metabolic issues) but without a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. The studies demonstrated that engaging in a combination of lifestyle changes—regular physical exercise, dietary modifications, stress reduction, and targeted brain‑training activities—led to measurable improvements in cognitive function. Dr. Perlmutter concludes with a motivational call to action, urging seniors to adopt these practices now, assuring them they will be glad they did.

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If you're in your 70s, is it too late to start protecting your brain? I'm in my 70s and it is absolutely not too late. You know, it's one thing for me to stand here and, and tell you that and hope that you believe me, but that's what the research shows. When we look at trials like the FINGER trial from back in 2014, and more recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the interventional trial called the POINTER study, these are individuals with risk for brain decline without the diagnosis of MCI or Alzheimer's, but significant metabolic issues that actually had improvement in cognitive function by engaging lifestyle changes like exercise, dietary changes, reduction of stress, and in the case of the POINTER study, engaging in some brain exercises. So it isn't too late if you're in your 70s or 80s. Go for it. You'll be happy you did.