Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309459621
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 181

Get Book

Book Description
Societies around the world are concerned about dementia and the other forms of cognitive impairment that affect many older adults. We now know that brain changes typically begin years before people show symptoms, which suggests a window of opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of these conditions. Emerging evidence that the prevalence of dementia is declining in high-income countries offers hope that public health interventions will be effective in preventing or delaying cognitive impairments. Until recently, the research and clinical communities have focused primarily on understanding and treating these conditions after they have developed. Thus, the evidence base on how to prevent or delay these conditions has been limited at best, despite the many claims of success made in popular media and advertising. Today, however, a growing body of prevention research is emerging. Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Way Forward assesses the current state of knowledge on interventions to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, and informs future research in this area. This report provides recommendations of appropriate content for inclusion in public health messages from the National Institute on Aging.

Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309459621
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 181

Get Book

Book Description
Societies around the world are concerned about dementia and the other forms of cognitive impairment that affect many older adults. We now know that brain changes typically begin years before people show symptoms, which suggests a window of opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of these conditions. Emerging evidence that the prevalence of dementia is declining in high-income countries offers hope that public health interventions will be effective in preventing or delaying cognitive impairments. Until recently, the research and clinical communities have focused primarily on understanding and treating these conditions after they have developed. Thus, the evidence base on how to prevent or delay these conditions has been limited at best, despite the many claims of success made in popular media and advertising. Today, however, a growing body of prevention research is emerging. Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Way Forward assesses the current state of knowledge on interventions to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, and informs future research in this area. This report provides recommendations of appropriate content for inclusion in public health messages from the National Institute on Aging.

Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia PDF Author: Alan I. Leshner
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 161

Get Book

Book Description
"Societies around the world are concerned about dementia and the other forms of cognitive impairment that affect many older adults. We now know that brain changes typically begin years before people show symptoms, which suggests a window of opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of these conditions. Emerging evidence that the prevalence of dementia is declining in high-income countries offers hope that public health interventions will be effective in preventing or delaying cognitive impairments. Until recently, the research and clinical communities have focused primarily on understanding and treating these conditions after they have developed. Thus, the evidence base on how to prevent or delay these conditions has been limited at best, despite the many claims of success made in popular media and advertising. Today, however, a growing body of prevention research is emerging. Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Way Forward assesses the current state of knowledge on interventions to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, and informs future research in this area. This report provides recommendations of appropriate content for inclusion in public health messages from the National Institute on Aging"--Publisher's description.

Cognitive Decline

Cognitive Decline PDF Author: H. M. Fillit
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521026703
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 156

Get Book

Book Description
Cognitive Decline - Strategies for Prevention examines the problems associated with our understanding of the ageing brain, whether or not such decline is inevitable and if there are practical steps which can be taken to prevent or minimise cognitive decline in late life. Preventive medical strategies have primarily targeted the top three causes of death in the developed world: heart disease, cancer and stroke. Less attention to date has been paid to cognitive decline and dementia, possible because the generally held view has been that little of nothing could be done to help them. Our knowledge has grown rapidly and it is becoming clear that preventative strategies are now viable. Cognitive Decline - Strategies for Prevention brings together a group of leading researchers to assess and make practical recommendations about the strategies currently available. The chapters assess how 'normal' cognitive ageing should be defined and what the genetic, medical, psychological and environmental factors are which can adversely affect optimal cognitive function in late life. It then examines how 'healthy living' strategies can be employed throughout life to prevent cognitive decline in later years and what are the research strategies which promise new approaches to prevention in the future.

Considerations for the Design of a Systematic Review of Interventions for Preventing Clinical Alzheimer's-Type Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Considerations for the Design of a Systematic Review of Interventions for Preventing Clinical Alzheimer's-Type Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Age-Related Cognitive Decline PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309389569
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 17

Get Book

Book Description
The National Institutes of Health - and many other organizations and individuals worldwide - are interested in the state of the science on preventing Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and age-related cognitive decline. This letter report reviews the evidence on interventions to decrease the risk of developing clinical Alzheimer's-type dementia and mild cognitive impairment, and delay or slow age-related cognitive decline. It also makes recommendations that inform public health messaging on preventative interventions and recommendations for future research.

New Developments in Dementia Prevention Research

New Developments in Dementia Prevention Research PDF Author: Kate Irving
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 135112269X
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 213

Get Book

Book Description
New Developments in Dementia Prevention Research addresses a dearth of knowledge about dementia prevention and shows the importance of considering the broader social impact of certain risk factors, including the role we each play in our own cognitive health throughout the lifespan. The book draws on primary and secondary research in order to investigate the relationship between modifiable factors, including vascular and psychosocial risks, that may affect the incidence of dementia. Bringing together world-leading expertise from applied science, medicine, psychology, health promotion, epidemiology, health economics, social policy and primary care, the book compares and contrasts scientific and service developments across a range of settings. Each chapter presents these themes in a way that will ensure best practice and further research in the field of dementia prevention is disseminated successfully throughout the world. Perhaps most importantly, chapters also question what type of social responsibility we are prepared to embrace in order to address the challenges inherent in dementia prevalence. New Developments in Dementia Prevention Research includes contributions from leading authorities in brain health and dementia prevention and provides an essential contribution to the discourse on dementia prevention. It will be of great interest to academics, researchers and postgraduate students engaged in the study of the psychological and social aspects of aging and dementia.

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline PDF Author: National Institutes of Health
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781495312168
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 132

Get Book

Book Description
How to protect an aging brain? This is a B&W copy of the government agency publication. For many older adults, cognitive health and performance remain stable over the course of their lifetime, with only a gradual and slight decline in short-term memory and reaction times. But for others, this normal, age-related decline in cognitive function progresses into a more serious state of cognitive impairment or into various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Such loss of cognitive function-the ability to think, learn, remember, and reason-substantially interferes with everyday function. As researchers continue to explore changes in the brain that take place possibly decades before cognitive decline and dementia symptoms appear, they also hope to discover more about the relationship between normal age-related cognitive decline and the development of cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease was first described in 1906, when German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer observed the hallmarks of the disease in the brain of a female patient who had experienced memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior: abnormal clumps of protein (now called beta-amyloid plaques) and tangled bundles of protein fibers (now called neurofibrillary tangles). Today, an estimated 2.5 to 4.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, and those numbers are expected to grow with the aging of the baby-boomer population. Age is the strongest known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, with most people diagnosed with the late-onset form of the disease over age 60. An early-onset, familial form also occurs but is very rare. The time from diagnosis to death with Alzheimer's disease ranges from as little as 3 years to 10 or more, depending on the person's age, sex, and the presence of other health problems. In addition to investigating the causes and potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, researchers are focused on finding ways to prevent cognitive decline. Many preventive measures for cognitive decline and for preventing Alzheimer's disease-mental stimulation, exercise, and a variety of dietary supplements-have been suggested, but their value in delaying the onset and/or reducing the severity of decline or disease is unclear. Questions also remain as to how the presence of certain conditions, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, influence an individual's risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. To examine these important questions about Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline in older people, the National Institute on Aging and Office of Medical Applications of Research of the National Institutes of Health will convene a State-of-the-Science Conference from April 26 to 28, 2010, to assess the available scientific evidence related to the following questions: What factors are associated with the reduction of risk of Alzheimer's disease? . What factors are associated with the reduction of risk of cognitive decline in older adults? . What are the therapeutic and adverse effects of interventions to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease? Are there differences in outcomes among identifiable subgroups? . What are the therapeutic and adverse effects of interventions to improve or maintain cognitive ability or function? Are there differences in outcomes among identifiable subgroups?

This is Dementia

This is Dementia PDF Author: John W. DenBoer
Publisher: FriesenPress
ISBN: 1525547119
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 147

Get Book

Book Description
This is Dementia: Disrupting the Decline seeks to dispel the myths surrounding dementia. It invites you to take a journey to explore the misconceptions, stereotypes, and various perspectives surrounding this devastating disorder. This journey is an interactive one that requires you to engage. It asks you to bring, and challenge, your own perspectives and understandings of what dementia is. The reality is that dementia in and of itself is not a disease. At its core, dementia is accelerated aging of the brain. In other words, the brain is on a faster trajectory toward death when compared to the body. This understanding of dementia is important as it opens the possibility of disrupting, even preventing, this trajectory. This is Dementia offers crucial insights into how dementia impacts our brains and its ability to function. It provides information on the early often imperceptible changes, referred to as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), that can begin as early as 30 or 40 years old. It dispels the myths that dementia is an inevitable part of aging and that it is not treatable. It offers five steps -- Awareness, Acceptance, Action, Allowance, and Attitude -- to guide your understanding of dementia and prepare you for your own diagnosis or that of someone close to us. Regardless of if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with dementia or not, This is Dementia provides a road map to empower you to slow, maybe even stop, the seemingly relentless march of this debilitating, "take-everything-from-you" disorder.

How to Prevent Dementia

How to Prevent Dementia PDF Author: Richard Restak
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1510776303
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 214

Get Book

Book Description
A comprehensive guide to preventing Alzheimer’s and other thinking disorders from bestselling author and renowned authority Dr. Richard Restak! How to Prevent Dementia begins with the principle that the more we know about dementia, the easier it is to prevent or delay it. A better foundation of knowledge also helps people to understand and interact thoughtfully with family members and other loved ones who may have Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Dr. Restak examines the basic thinking of normal everyday people and progresses to people with thinking disorders. In understanding that dementias exist along a continuum, starting with perfectly normal performance and ending at the extremes of mental dysfunction, we learn how our attention to everyday habits, choices, and behaviors can affect where we are located along that continuum, as well as whether or how we will progress from one part to another. As can be gleaned from recent reports, researchers may be on the cusp of a meaningful treatment or cure for Alzheimer’s. Dr. Restak also helps the reader to grasp both the positive and challenging consequences of the new medications that will soon be available. At the end of the book, the reader will understand what practical steps can be taken each day to lessen the odds of dementia and how to take advantage of new medications, while gaining a better understanding of thinking and what it is like to have it falter.

Cognitive Aging

Cognitive Aging PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309368650
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 330

Get Book

Book Description
For most Americans, staying "mentally sharp" as they age is a very high priority. Declines in memory and decision-making abilities may trigger fears of Alzheimer's disease or other neurodegenerative diseases. However, cognitive aging is a natural process that can have both positive and negative effects on cognitive function in older adults - effects that vary widely among individuals. At this point in time, when the older population is rapidly growing in the United States and across the globe, it is important to examine what is known about cognitive aging and to identify and promote actions that individuals, organizations, communities, and society can take to help older adults maintain and improve their cognitive health. Cognitive Aging assesses the public health dimensions of cognitive aging with an emphasis on definitions and terminology, epidemiology and surveillance, prevention and intervention, education of health professionals, and public awareness and education. This report makes specific recommendations for individuals to reduce the risks of cognitive decline with aging. Aging is inevitable, but there are actions that can be taken by individuals, families, communities, and society that may help to prevent or ameliorate the impact of aging on the brain, understand more about its impact, and help older adults live more fully and independent lives. Cognitive aging is not just an individual or a family or a health care system challenge. It is an issue that affects the fabric of society and requires actions by many and varied stakeholders. Cognitive Aging offers clear steps that individuals, families, communities, health care providers and systems, financial organizations, community groups, public health agencies, and others can take to promote cognitive health and to help older adults live fuller and more independent lives. Ultimately, this report calls for a societal commitment to cognitive aging as a public health issue that requires prompt action across many sectors.

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline PDF Author: Ahrq Government Agency
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781499557084
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 728

Get Book

Book Description
This book is a B&W copy of the government agency publication.Dementia is a loss of cognitive abilities in multiple domains that results in impairment in normal activities of daily living and loss of independence. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, responsible for 60 to 80 percent of all dementia. AD causes severe suffering for patients, including progressive functional impairment, loss of independence, emotional distress, and behavioral symptoms. Families and caregivers often experience emotional and financial stress. The major risk factor for AD is age, with the prevalence doubling every 5 years after the age of 65. Most estimates of the prevalence of AD in the United States are about 2.3 million for individuals over age 70, but some estimates are as high as 5.3 million individuals over the age of 65. The number of individuals with mild cognitive impairment exceeds the number with AD. These individuals have mild impairment in cognition or daily functions that does not meet the threshold for a diagnosis of dementia, but they are at increased risk for development of AD, which makes them a prime target for intervention protocols. Studies of selected risk or protective factors for cognitive decline and AD have been published, but it is not clear whether the results of these previous studies are of sufficient strength to warrant specific recommendations for behavioral, lifestyle, or pharmaceutical interventions/modifications targeted to these endpoints. As background for an upcoming State-of-the-Science Conference in April 2010, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Medical Applications of Research (OMAR) commissioned this evidence report on “Preventing Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Decline” through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The aim is to summarize the available literature, frame the discussion regarding potential risk factors, and highlight the limitations of the evidence base. We synthesized the existing literature on the following key questions: Key Question 1: What factors are associated with the reduction of risk of Alzheimer's disease? Key Question 2: What factors are associated with the reduction of risk of cognitive decline in older adults? Key Question 3: What are the therapeutic and adverse effects of interventions to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease? Are there differences in outcomes among identifiable subgroups? Key Question 4: What are the therapeutic and adverse effects of interventions to improve or maintain cognitive ability or function? Are there differences in outcomes among identifiable subgroups? Key Question 5: What are the relationships between the factors that affect Alzheimer's disease and the factors that affect cognitive decline? Key Question 6: If recommendations for interventions cannot be made currently, what studies need to be done that could provide the quality and strength of evidence necessary to make such recommendations to individuals?