Healthy lifestyles to prevent dementia and reduce dementia symptoms

Working with Older People,Volume 21, Issue 1, March 2017. Purpose 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/approach 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 implications From 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 befo...
Source: Working with Older People - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research