Healthy lifestyles to prevent dementia and reduce dementia symptoms

Abstract

Citation: HOGERVOIST, E., 2017 AbstractPurpose Dementia is a growing problem worldwide, due to an ageing population. It has significant human and economic costs. There is no effective medical treatment.Design/methodology Using earlier reviews, we discuss the difference between dementia and cognitive ageing and the different types of dementia, in terms of manifestation and pathology. We reviewed non-modifiable risk factors for dementia, such as age, gender, genetics and education. Education can possibly have lifelong protective effects, as it may promote cognitive reserve. This paper focused on lifestyle interventions to further increase brain reserve capacity. Findings from earlier reviews were summarised to provide guidelines for policymakers and practioners.Findings Our reviews suggested that most nutritional approaches may have limited effectiveness, and should be implemented in midlife, before dementia symptoms are present and probably only in people who are actually nutritionally deficient. We found a reasonable positive evidence base of engagement in cognitive and physical activities to prevent dementia, which may also help reduce symptoms of dementia. Practical and social implicationsFrom the studies reviewed, it was suggested that keeping physically and mentally active may help in all stages of life to prevent, but also reduce dementia symptoms. A focus on nutrition and treating heart disease risk factors is possibly limited to midlife, or before dementia symptoms are present. OrginalityWe used an evidence based approach to review which lifestyle interventions could help prevent dementia or reduce dementia symptoms. The main outcome of this paper was that stage of life and ability (dementia present or not) may interact with success of the intervention

Promoting independence in dementia: protocol for a feasibility trial of the PRIDE intervention for living well with dementia

“…22 The evidence used to inform the development of the first draft of the manual and intervention was derived from the PRIDE team"s expertise and work including; a literature review of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions to promote and maintain independence in early-stage dementia, a scoping review of social participation in people with dementia living in the community, evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) cohort about the links between loneliness and cognitive decline, the role of physical activity/exercise interventions, and the use of computers and the internet in cognitive function. [23][24][25][26][27] The research team developed a first draft of the intervention and manual with input from people with dementia, supporters, DAWs, older people, and healthcare professionals, consulting these groups in a series of informal meetings, and via email. The manual was then updated based on consultation feedback to create a second draft, which will be tested in this feasibility study.…”

Nutrition research in cognitive impairment/dementia, with a focus on soya and folate

“…However, other cohorts have also not always found an association between B vitamins and cognitive decline/dementia. Because there were no data on this cohort before folic acid fortification was introduced, it is not possible to draw any firm conclusions from these analyses ( 24 ) .…”

“…Another related issue is folic acid fortification in starch. White and African- American elderly aged between 70 and 79 years of the observational Health, Aging and Body Composition longitudinal study ( 24 ) had a 9-year follow-up and 923 people underwent cognitive tests. Bloods were measured for homocysteine, folate and vitamin B 12 .…”