SymptomLog Logo
  

Browse Conditions: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Preventing Dementia

There is no known way to prevent Alzheimer's disease. In general:

  • A healthy diet will help maintain good levels of vitamin B12 and cholesterol.
  • Exercise can also enhance cardiovascular health, which may delay the onset of vascular dementia.
  • Limiting alcohol intake can prevent dementia from alcoholism.
  • Avoiding drug abuse and practicing safe sex reduces the risk of AIDS-related dementia.
  • There is some evidence that engaging in mentally stimulating activity over a lifetime may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

RESOURCES:

Alzheimer's Association
http://www.alz.org/

American Academy of Neurology
http://www.aan.com/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Alzheimers Association of Canada
http://www.alzheimer.ca/

Toronto Dementia Network
http://www.dementiatoronto.org/

References:

American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association's Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias of Late Life . Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 1997.

Beers MH, Berkow R, Bogin RM, et al. The Merck Manual of Geriatrics . 3rd ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck & Co. Inc.;1995-2000.

Cecil RL, Goldman L, Bennett JC. Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2000.

DeKosky S, Jeff D, Williamson A, et al. Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trialJAMA. 2008;300:2253-2262.

Dementia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated January 18, 2009. Accessed February 2, 2009.

Dementia: It's not always Alzheimer's. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dementia/AZ00003 . Accessed July 22, 2008.

Detection, diagnosis, and management of dementia. American Academy of Neurology website. Available at: http://www.aan.com/professionals/practice/pdfs/dementia_guideline.pdf . Accessed July 20, 2008.

Kaduszkiewicz H, Zimmermann T, Beck-Bornholdt HP, van den Bussche H. Cholinesterase inhibitors for patients with Alzheimer's disease: systematic review of randomized clinical trials. BMJ . 2005;331:321-327.

Ledger AJ & Baker FA. An investigation of long-term effects of group music therapy on agitation levels of people with Alzheimer’s Disease. Aging & Mental Health . 2007;11: 330-338.

Mendez MF, Cummings JL. Dementia: A clinical Approach . 3rd ed. Boston, MA: Butterworth Heinemann; 2003.

Obrien JT, et al. Dopamine transporter loss visualized with FP-CIT SPECT in the differential diagnosis of dementia with Lewy Bodies. Arch Neurol . 2004; 61: 919-925.

Schneider L, Dagerman K, InselP. Risk of death with atypical antipsychotic drug treatment for dementia: meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.JAMA. 2005;294:1934-1943.

Tierney L. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment . 44th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill;2005.

*¹12/16/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Farquhar C, Marjoribanks J, Lethaby A, Suckling J, Lamberts Q. Long term hormone therapy for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;CD004143.

*²2/24/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Birks J, Grimley Evans J. Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;CD003120.



Last reviewed January 2009 by J. Thomas Megerian, MD, PhD, FAAP

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.



Talk about it in the:
Dementia Support Group

Log In

Log In with your User ID.

User ID   
Password   
   Remember Me
 
 

Forget your Password?


advertisement