Wagner M, et al. - To gain clarity regarding optimal time-frames for interventions targeting a healthy lifestyle for cognitive aging prevention, researchers analyzed a case-control sample of 14,956 women aged ≥ 70 years who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study (starting year: 1976; mean age: 51 years) and were free of both stroke and cognitive impairment at enrollment in a cognitive sub-study (1995-2001). They compared 1,496 women with the 10% worst slopes of cognitive decline vs 7,478 controls with slopes better than the median with respect to trajectories of BMI, the alternate Mediterranean diet (A-MeDi) score, and physical activity from midlife through 1 year before the cognitive sub-study. There were higher BMI values, lower physical activity, and worse A-MeDi scores in cases in midlife. Consistently lower A-MeDi scores, but deceleration of weight gain and a faster reduction of physical activity, were observed in cases vs controls from mid- through later-life. Experts concluded that cognitive deterioration in aging may be reduced by maintaining healthy lifestyle since midlife. Early signs of cognitive impairment, at older ages, may be reflected by both deceleration of weight gain and reduction in physical activity.