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Dementia (Including Alzheimer's Disease) can be Prevented: Statement Supported by International Experts

Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Dementia (Including Alzheimer's Disease) can be Prevented: Statement Supported by International ExpertsOn the occasion of the G8 dementia summit in London on 11 December 2013, we call upon the governments of the G8 countries to make prevention of dementia one of their major health aims.• The commonest dementia (Alzheimer's disease) is irreversible and develops slowly over many years.• So far drugs have only relieved symptoms, but have not been effective against disease progression.• About half of the large decline in deaths from heart disease and stroke over the past 50 years has been the result of public health measures to modify risk factors.We are confident that the same approach will work for dementia.• We propose that a concerted effort be made to discover modifiable risk factors for dementia and to exploit those already identified.• International collaboration is needed on largescale clinical trials to test whether modifying risk factors will lead to prevention of dementia.• Health authorities should aim to identify high risk individuals at an early stage, when intervention is more likely to help.• There is already sufficient evidence to justify immediate action.Trials in those at risk of developing dementia should be done of the following: exercise; controlling blood sugar, including diabetes treatment; depression treatment; high blood pressure treatment; B vitamins; omega-3 fatty acids; cognitive training; and social activities.• Public health policies should encourage middleaged people to stop smoking; exercise; eat diets rich in fruit and vegetables and fish (Mediterranean foods); avoid becoming obese and diabetic; avoid excessive alcohol intake; treat high
DOI: 10.3233/jad-132372
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2345987416
FWCI: 6.746
Cites: 16
Cited by: 72
Related to: 10