Prevention of dementia

"Use it or lose it" might be applied to the brain when it comes to dementia. Intellectual activities help keep the mind in shape in later years. Activities such as reading, learning a new language, playing cards and board games[11][12] and playing a musical instrument can postpone the onset and slow the progression of both Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.[13][14] The risk decrease is proportional to frequency of activity,[13] with slower cognitive decline being associated with both late-life and early-life increased cognitive activity.[15]

Apart from spare time activities, a mentally demanding job may prevent dementia, especially during the thirties, forties and fifties.[13]

Mental activity may help to prevent dementia by building up a "brain reserve": additional connections between neurons are created which are more resistant to the deterioration seen in dementia.[13]

Since vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia (after Alzheimer's disease), reducing the risk of cerebrovascular disease also reduces the risk of dementia.[16] Thus, physical exercise, having good blood cholesterol, healthy body weight and blood pressure lowers the risk of developing dementia.[13] An active lifestyle can almost halve the risk compared to a sedentary one.[13]

Results of one meta-analysis, which investigated the relationship between physical activity and risk of cognitive decline in people without dementia, showed exercise had a significant and consistent protective effect against cognitive decline, with high levels of physical activity being most protective.[17] Another meta-analysis showed that not only did aerobic exercise reduce the risk of dementia but it may also slow cognitive decline in those with dementia.[18]

The effect of physical activity is not limited to vascular effects. Physical activity can give rise to new neurons in the brain, as well as releasing a substance that can protect them.[13] The protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is known to be important in the development, survival and plasticity of neurons. Regular exercise can boost BDNF levels by 2–3 times.[19]

Obesity increases the risk of any dementia and Alzheimer's disease in particular.[13] The effect of alcohol on the risk of dementia is a J curve:[20] high alcohol consumption increases the risk of dementia[21] while low alcohol consumption may be protective.[20][22] However, low alcohol consumption may not protect against vascular dementia and overall cognitive decline.[20] Moderate alcohol consumption can possibly reduce the risk of vascular disease and dementia because it can increase blood levels of HDL cholesterol and weakens blood-clotting agents such as fibrinogen, which offers some protection against heart attacks and small subclinical strokes that together can ultimately damage the brain.[23]

The effects of omega-3 fatty acid in the prevention of dementia is uncertain.[24] Vegetables and nuts may be of benefit,[13] because of their high content of polyunsaturated fats. Non-fish meat, on the other hand, increases the risk of Alzheimer's,[13] because of its high content of saturated fat.

Niacin (vitamin B₃) is also believed to prevent dementia as research shows those who have the highest levels of niacin in their blood, are believed to have the lowest risk of developing dementia or having cognitive decline. Niacin is involved with DNA synthesis and repair and also neural cell signaling, it improves circulation and reduces cholesterol levels. In order for niacin to have a positive effect on the brain, it is recommended that patients have 100 to 300 mg per day.[23]

There is evidence for an association between cognitive decline, homocysteine (Hcy) status, and vitamin B status relating especially to B12[25] and also to vitamins B6 and B9.[26] In particular, deficiency of vitamin B12 and/or of folate can cause an increase in Hcy plasma levels, which in turn leads to toxic effects on the vascular and nervous systems.[27]

Vitamin D deficiency correlates with cognitive impairment and dementia; however, the value of vitamin D substitution in cognitive impairment remains doubtful.[28][29][30]

More than nine hours of sleep per day (including daytime napping) may be associated with an increased risk of dementia.[31] Lack of sleep may also increase risk of dementia by increasing beta-amyloid deposition.[32]

Being neurotic increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's, a type of dementia.[33][34][35] Neuroticism is associated with increased brain atrophy and cognitive impairment in life, while conscientiousness has a protective effect by preventing brain atrophy.[36] A meta-analysis found that the openness and agreeableness traits have also some protective effects.[37]

Depressive symptoms can be a part of the clinical presentation of dementia, leading to debate as to whether depression is a cause or a symptom of dementia.[7] The evidence remains unclear. However, Livingstone et al. (2014)[7] report that it is "biologically plausible" that depression increases the risk of dementia. There is some evidence that late-life depression increases the risk of dementia however[38] suggesting treating depression in mid-life might delay or prevent dementia.

Some studies say Alzheimer's and other dementias may be caused by high blood pressure, since it can cause blood vessel damage through constriction.[39][40] The etiology of vascular dementia includes hypertension, and thus, lowering blood pressure with antihypertensives may have a positive effect in the prevention of dementia, just as physical activity.

However, one study failed to demonstrate a link between high blood pressure and developing dementia. The study, published in the Lancet Neurology journal of July 2008, found that blood pressure lowering medication did not reduce the incidence of dementia to a statistically significant degree. A prospective meta-analysis of the data from this study with other studies suggested that further research might be warranted.[41]

A study of participants in the Leisure World Cohort Study and The 90+ Study showed that people whose high blood pressure began in their 80s might be less likely to develop dementia than people who did not have high blood pressure.[42]

While the results of studies are somewhat inconsistent, it has been recommended that hypertension in mid-life (45–65 years) and older age (65+ years) should be actively treated to reduce the risk of dementia.[7]

Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for vascular dementia, and is thus the risk is lowered with anti-diabetic drugs.[43]

Besides, Rosiglitazone (Avandia) improves memory and thinking ability for people with mild Alzheimer's disease. The mechanism of the effect may be the ability of the drug to reduce insulin resistance.[13] Thus, less insulin needs to be released to achieve its metabolic effects. Insulin in the bloodstream is a trigger of amyloid beta-production,[43][44] so decreased insulin levels decrease the level of amyloid beta. This leads to less formation of amyloid plaques seen in Alzheimer's disease.

Estrogen may also help in the prevention of dementia but cannot help when dementia is already present and when cognitive function is already impaired. It increases cerebral blood flow and is an anti-inflammatory agent, enhancing activity at the neuronal synapses in the brain. It may also help to increase brain activation in regions that are affected by dementia which is mainly the hippocampus region. Recent evidence on the effects of estrogen do not allow for an unambiguous recommendation for estrogen supplementation and they indicate that the timing of estrogen supplementation may be important, with early postmenopausal use being preferable over its use later in life.[45][46]

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.[13] The length of time needed to prevent dementia varies, but in most studies it is usually between 2 and 10 years.[47][48][49][50][51] Research has also shown that it must be used in clinically relevant dosages and that so called "baby aspirin" doses are ineffective at treating dementia.[52]

Alzheimer's disease causes inflammation in the neurons by its deposits of amyloid beta peptides and neurofibrillary tangles. These deposits irritate the body by causing a release of e.g. cytokines and acute phase proteins, leading to inflammation. When these substances accumulate over years they contribute to the effects of Alzheimer's.[53] NSAIDs inhibit the formation of such inflammatory substances, and prevent the deteriorating effects.[54][55][56]

In 2020 a systematic review conducted by Cochrane of four randomized controlled trials with 23,187 participants concluded that the use of low-dose aspirin and NSAIDS of any type for the prevention of dementia was not supported and that there could be harm.[57]

There is as yet no vaccine against dementia.[13] It has been theorized that a vaccine could activate the body's own immune system to combat the beta amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease. One problem to overcome is overreaction from the immune system, leading to encephalitis.[13]