Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia

Preventing Cognitive Decline and Dementia PDF

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2017-10-05

Total Pages: 181

ISBN-13: 0309459591

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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.

Cognitive Aging

Cognitive Aging PDF

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2015-07-21

Total Pages: 330

ISBN-13: 0309368650

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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.

Cognitive Decline

Cognitive Decline PDF

Author: Howard Fillit

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1997-01-02

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 9781900151450

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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 minimize cognitive decline in late life. Current 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, possibly because the generally held view has been that little or nothing could be done to help them. Our knowledge about the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia in old age has grown rapidly in recent years and it is becoming clear that preventative strategies are now viable. This book brings together a group of leading researchers in cognitive ageing 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 goes on to examine how 'healthy living' strategies can be employed throughout life to prevent cognitive decline in later years and what are the current research strategies which promise new approaches to prevention in the future.

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease PDF

Author: National Institutes National Institutes oF Health

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2017-02-16

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13: 9781543146073

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This booklet summarizes what scientists have learned so far and where research is headed. There is no definitive evidence yet about what can prevent Alzheimer's or age-related cognitive decline. What we do know is that a healthy lifestyle-one that includes a healthy diet, physical activity, appropriate weight, and no smoking-can maintain and improve overall health and well-being. Making healthy choices can also lower the risk of certain chronic diseases, like heart disease and diabetes, and scientists are very interested in the possibility that a healthy lifestyle might have a beneficial effect on Alzheimer's as well. In the meantime, as research continues to pinpoint what works to prevent Alzheimer's, people of all ages can benefit from taking positive steps to get and stay healthy.

Dementia

Dementia PDF

Author: Ellen Hickey

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2011-02-14

Total Pages: 437

ISBN-13: 1136874240

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Dementia: From Diagnosis to Management - A Functional Approach is a comprehensive description of a functional and behavioral approach to assessing and treating persons with dementia. While very practical, the information is embedded in a scientific context of the causes, neuropsychological manifestations, and complications of dementia. The management of the impairments of dementia is centered on its functional consequences and impact on daily living. The chapters describe behavioral interventions and environmental strategies that aim to improve daily activities and quality of life from a proactive communication and memory basis. Specific suggestions are provided to enhance family involvement and staff relationships, interdisciplinary cooperation, reimbursement, and documentation across various home and institutional settings. The book is written in a straightforward style and is evenhanded in its critical analyses of the evidence available to inform practice. The extensive clinical backgrounds of the authors allow them to use ‘real world’ case studies to illustrate common challenges of persons with dementia and potential solutions for caregivers. Further resources and clinical materials are included in comprehensive appendices. The volume provides essential reading for clinicians and administrators who seek to improve the lives of people with dementia and those who care for them. It is also an invaluable reference for beginning students in adult language disorders and gerontology.

Retooling for an Aging America

Retooling for an Aging America PDF

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2008-09-27

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13: 0309115876

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As the first of the nation's 78 million baby boomers begin reaching age 65 in 2011, they will face a health care workforce that is too small and woefully unprepared to meet their specific health needs. Retooling for an Aging America calls for bold initiatives starting immediately to train all health care providers in the basics of geriatric care and to prepare family members and other informal caregivers, who currently receive little or no training in how to tend to their aging loved ones. The book also recommends that Medicare, Medicaid, and other health plans pay higher rates to boost recruitment and retention of geriatric specialists and care aides. Educators and health professional groups can use Retooling for an Aging America to institute or increase formal education and training in geriatrics. Consumer groups can use the book to advocate for improving the care for older adults. Health care professional and occupational groups can use it to improve the quality of health care jobs.

Novel Indicators and Strategies for Prevention and Management of Physical and Cognitive Frailty in Aging Population

Novel Indicators and Strategies for Prevention and Management of Physical and Cognitive Frailty in Aging Population PDF

Author: Xin Jiang

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2023-11-17

Total Pages: 165

ISBN-13: 2832538932

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Frailty is a condition/phenotype of decreased functional capacities across multiple bio-physiological indicators as a person ages. Older adults, in many instances, can suffer from frailty syndromes and their consequence of poor health, including e.g. increased risk of falls, disabled mobility, etc. The appropriate characterization of frailty and its related physical and mental components is thus of great importance to help predict the risk of frailty syndromes, and to optimize management and rehabilitation programs. The ultimate goals is to minimize the burden of frailty in older adults. The frailty syndromes are generally measured by using different established protocols, such as Fried’s Frailty Criteria, and conceptualized by simply accumulating the measured syndromes. Recent research works have shown that frailty not only arises from diminished physical function, but also from multiple other types of functional decline, such as cognitive impairment, and abnormalities in vascular system (e.g., hypertension). Moreover, these conditions are not distinct or isolated from each other, but closely interact and interconnected. These interactions may play critical roles in the development of frailty. Therefore, it is worthwhile to re-conceptualize “frailty” by implementing advanced technologies to measure the characteristics of functions that are pertaining to frailty, and to explore the inter-relationships between them. Thus, we can discover novel indicators to predict frailty and can develop novel strategies to optimize the management and rehabilitation of frailty. The overall goal of this research topic is to share and discuss recent achievements on understanding the pathology of frailty and its related bio-physiological characteristics, to identify novel indicators that can help predict the incidence of frailty, and to help optimize strategies for the prevention and management of frailty in aging population.

Neuropsychology of Cognitive Decline

Neuropsychology of Cognitive Decline PDF

Author: Holly A. Tuokko

Publisher: Guilford Publications

Published: 2018-05-15

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 1462535437

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Presenting best practices for assessment and intervention with older adults experiencing cognitive decline, this book draws on cutting-edge research and extensive clinical experience. The authors' integrative approach skillfully interweaves neuropsychological and developmental knowledge. The volume provides guidelines for evaluating and differentiating among normal aging, subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and different types of dementia. It identifies risk and protective factors that may influence an individual's trajectory and describes how to create a sound case conceptualization. Evidence-based strategies for pharmacological, cognitive, behavioral, and psychological intervention with patients and their caregivers are illustrated with vivid case examples.

The Wiley Handbook on the Aging Mind and Brain

The Wiley Handbook on the Aging Mind and Brain PDF

Author: Matthew Rizzo

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2018-03-01

Total Pages: 832

ISBN-13: 1118772075

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A thought-provoking treatise on understanding and treating the aging mind and brain This handbook recognizes the critical issues surrounding mind and brain health by tackling overarching and pragmatic needs so as to better understand these multifaceted issues. This includes summarizing and synthesizing critical evidence, approaches, and strategies from multidisciplinary research—all of which have advanced our understanding of the neural substrates of attention, perception, memory, language, decision-making, motor behavior, social cognition, emotion, and other mental functions. Written by a plethora of health experts from around the world, The Wiley Handbook on the Aging Mind and Brain offers in-depth contributions in 7 sections: Introduction; Methods of Assessment; Brain Functions and Behavior across the Lifespan; Cognition, Behavior and Disease; Optimizing Brain Function in Health and Disease; Forensics, Competence, Legal, Ethics and Policy Issues; and Conclusion and New Directions. Geared toward improving the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of many brain-based disorders that occur in older adults and that cause disability and death Seeks to advance the care of patients who have perceptual, cognitive, language, memory, emotional, and many other behavioral symptoms associated with these disorders Addresses principles and practice relevant to challenges posed by the US National Academy of Sciences and National Institute of Aging (NIA) Presents materials at a scientific level that is appropriate for a wide variety of providers The Wiley Handbook on the Aging Mind and Brain is an important text for neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, physiatrists, geriatricians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other primary caregivers who care for patients in routine and specialty practices as well as students, interns, residents, and fellows.