Get help now — free helplines

You can call any of these for free. You do not need a diagnosis, an appointment, or a crisis to call — questions and plain exhaustion are reasons enough.

  • Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline 800-272-3900 24 hours a day, 365 days a year Free, confidential support and information for people with dementia, caregivers, families and the public. Master's-level clinicians. Also Spanish.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 24/7 Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. For anyone in emotional distress or a mental-health crisis, including caregivers.
  • Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) Helpline 866-232-8484 9:00 am - 9:00 pm ET, seven days a week Licensed social workers providing support, info and referrals. Also text message and web chat. Text: 646-586-5283

In a medical emergency, call 911. More numbers, and what each line does, on the help page.

Each study has a usefulness score out of 100 (rubric version 4.0). Tap a score to see what makes it up.

Highest usefulness score first. Studies without a score come last.

  1. Using the COM-B model to identify barriers and facilitators towards adoption of a diet associated with cognitive function (MIND diet)

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Public health nutrition 2020-08-17 Prevention trials

    This study provides insight into the personal, social and environmental factors that participants report as barriers and facilitators to the adoption of the MIND diet among middle-aged adults living in the UK.

  2. Mediterranean diet adherence is associated with better cognitive status and less depressive symptoms in a Greek elderly population

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Aging clinical and experimental research 2020-06-02 Prevention trials

    Higher MD adherence is strongly associated with better cognitive status and less depressive symptomatology.

  3. Associations Between Self-Reported Sensory Impairment and Risk of Cognitive Decline and Impairment in the Health and Retirement Study Cohort

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 2020-06-01 Prevention and risk

    Self-assessed sensory impairment is independently associated with cognitive decline and incident possible CIND and probable dementia.

    Why it matters

    In 19,618 older adults, self-reported hearing, visual, and dual sensory impairments were associated with worse cognitive test performance and higher risk of possible cognitive impairment and probable dementia. This observational study shows associations only and does not test whether treating sensory impairment prevents dementia.

  4. Impact of Hypertension on Cognitive Decline and Dementia

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Annals of geriatric medicine and research 2020-03-18 Treatments

    Dementia reduces a person's ability to perform their activities of daily living and is the leading cause of morbidity worldwide.

    Why it matters

    This review reports that treating hypertension in middle-aged and older adults without dementia may reduce the incidence of dementia, though only one trial using calcium-channel blockers showed a significant reduction. It calls for further studies on the long-term benefits of antihypertensive treatment.

  5. Unsupervised machine learning for the discovery of latent disease clusters and patient subgroups using electronic health records

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Journal of biomedical informatics 2019-12-28 Digital health tools

    Machine learning has become ubiquitous and a key technology on mining electronic health records (EHRs) for facilitating clinical research and practice.

    Why it matters

    Unsupervised machine learning models identified latent disease clusters and patient subgroups from electronic health records, including a Delirium/Dementia cohort. This is a method for discovering patterns in health records and does not treat, cure, or prevent Alzheimer's disease.

  6. Efficacy and safety of Shenmayizhi decoction as an adjuvant treatment for vascular dementia: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Medicine 2019-12-01 Treatments

    This study will provide evidences to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SMYZD in combination with GBEs in treatment of VaD, as well as the adjuvant role of SMYZD in combination.

    Why it matters

    This is a study protocol, so no results are available yet on whether Shenmayizhi decoction helps vascular dementia. The trial will compare it as an add-on to Ginkgo biloba extracts in 196 patients over 12 weeks.

  7. Interdisciplinary palliative care for people with advanced Parkinson's disease: a view from the home

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Annals of palliative medicine 2019-10-14 End-of-life care

    As our population ages, therapies increase, and the number of individuals living with advanced PD and related disorders grows, so too does the imperative to recognize and address the palliative care needs of such patients and families.

  8. Maintaining Social Connections in Dementia: A Qualitative Synthesis

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Qualitative health research 2019-09-25 Digital health tools

    The clinical symptoms of dementia include difficulty with speech, poor short-term memory, and changes in behavior.

    Why it matters

    This qualitative review examined how people with mild to moderate dementia maintain social connections and manage their social persona. It addresses social support and self-management, not treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.

  9. Assessing the Preparedness of the Health Care System Infrastructure in Six European Countries for an Alzheimer's Treatment

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Rand health quarterly 2019-05-16 Mild cognitive impairment

    No disease-modifying therapy is currently available for Alzheimer's disease, but therapies are in development, and one may become available in the near future.

    Why it matters

    This analysis argues that because candidate treatments have not reversed dementia, Alzheimer's may need to be prevented rather than cured, with future therapies aimed at early-stage patients such as those with mild cognitive impairment. It estimates about 20 million people over 55 in the EU have mild cognitive impairment and examines whether health systems could handle screening and treatment if such a therapy became available.

  10. Geographical Variation in the Diagnostic Rate and Quality of Dementia Diagnoses

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease 2019-04-02 Risk factors

    The national prevalence and incidence of registered dementia diagnoses was 3.0% and 0.5%, respectively.

    Why it matters

    This study found that dementia diagnosis rates and use of anti-dementia medication varied widely across five regions, indicating unequal access to diagnosis and care. It does not test a treatment or prevention, so it cannot show how to cure or prevent dementia.

  11. The risks of long-term use of proton pump inhibitors: a critical review

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Therapeutic advances in drug safety 2018-11-19 Prevention and risk

    Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most frequently prescribed medications.

    Why it matters

    This review notes that at least one study has suggested long-term proton pump inhibitor use increases the risk of dementia, among other concerns. It reports a suggested association, not a proven cause, and offers no treatment or cure.

  12. Communication Difficulties as a Result of Dementia

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Materia socio-medica 2018-10-01 Digital health tools

    Communication for people with dementia and with people with dementia for all persons involved in care (including family members, medical staff and therapists, and members of the community) can be very challenging.

    Why it matters

    This review explains that language difficulties in dementia come from failing nerve cells and are not the person's fault. It supports adapting how caregivers and staff communicate with people who have dementia, but it does not test any treatment or cure.

  13. Aging and the Epidemiology of Epilepsy

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Neuroepidemiology 2018-09-25 Caregiving

    The increased incidence of seizures and epilepsy in the elderly can be attributed to the increase of age-related and aging-related epileptogenic conditions.

    Why it matters

    This review describes the epidemiology of epilepsy in aging populations, noting that increased seizures in the elderly can be attributed to age-related conditions including stroke and dementia. It is about epilepsy and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.

  14. Effects of Exercise on Vascular Function, Structure, and Health in Humans

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine 2018-04-02 Prevention and risk

    Physical activity has profound impacts on the vasculature in humans.

    Why it matters

    This review describes how exercise affects blood vessels and notes that exercise plays a role in conditions with a vascular cause, including dementia. It does not report any trial showing that exercise prevents or treats Alzheimer's disease.

  15. The challenge of opt-outs from NHS data: a small-area perspective

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Journal of Public Health 2018-03-06 Risk factors

    As a result, NHS data provide a huge and invaluable resource of routinely collected primary (e.g. visits to GP practices) and secondary (e.g. hospital admissions, outpatient appointments, A&E attendances) healthcare data covering near-100% of the population of England.

    Why it matters

    This paper discusses challenges with patients opting out of NHS data sharing and how this affects small-area health data. It has no findings about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.

  16. Diet, nutrition and the ageing brain: current evidence and new directions

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2018-01-10 Prevention and risk

    Globally populations are ageing. By 2050, it is estimated that there will be two billion people aged 60 years or over, of which 131 million are projected to be affected by dementia, while depression is predicted to be the second leading cause of disability worldwide by 2020.

    Why it matters

    This review reports some evidence linking dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet, and specific nutrients such as n-3 PUFA, polyphenols, vitamin D and B-vitamins with brain health, with the strongest evidence for folate and related B-vitamins in slowing cognitive decline. It is a review of existing evidence and does not establish that any diet or nutrient prevents dementia.

  17. Factors underlying cognitive decline in old age and Alzheimer's disease: the role of the hippocampus

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Reviews in the neurosciences 2017-10-01 Mild cognitive impairment

    There are many factors that strongly influence the aetiology, development, and progression of cognitive decline in old age, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

    Why it matters

    This review discusses how personality traits, mood, and lifestyle factors such as exercise and diet affect the hippocampus and may influence cognitive decline in old age, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. It offers recommendations but presents no new treatment, cure, or prevention results.

  18. Motor speech signature of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: Refining the phenotype

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Neurology 2017-07-21 Digital health tools

    One in 8 patients presented with moderate speech timing deficits with a further two-thirds rated as mild or subclinical.

    Why it matters

    This study described motor speech function in 24 individuals with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia compared to healthy controls. It found speech was significantly different and correlated with brain regions, but it is about characterizing a different dementia, not treating Alzheimer's disease.

  19. Social inappropriateness in neurodegenerative disorders

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. International psychogeriatrics 2017-07-10 Digital health tools

    Through various manifestations, social inappropriateness is frequently the first clinical sign of a neurodegenerative process, especially in AD and bvFTD, years before noticeable impairment on classical neuropsychological assessment and brain atrophy on imaging.

    Why it matters

    This review describes how impaired social cognition contributes to inappropriate behaviors in early frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease. It is about understanding symptoms and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.

  20. Practical risk score for 5-, 10-, and 20-year prediction of dementia in elderly persons: Framingham Heart Study

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2017-06-13 Long-term cohort studies

    With a rapidly aging population, general practitioners are confronting the challenge of how to determine those who are at greatest risk for dementia and potentially need more specialized follow-up to mitigate symptoms early in its course.

    Why it matters

    This study produced a practical risk score that gives individualized estimates of a person's chance of developing dementia over 5, 10, and 20 years. It is a prediction tool, not a treatment, so it does not show how to cure or prevent dementia.

  21. Mild Cognitive Impairment

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Clinics in geriatric medicine 2017-05-17 Getting a diagnosis

    Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurs along a continuum from normal cognition to dementia.

    Why it matters

    There are currently no pharmacologic treatments proven to slow or cure progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia. There is evidence that lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and cognitive stimulation may be effective, and reversible causes should be checked once MCI is diagnosed.

  22. Specialty Palliative Care Consultations for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Journal of pain and symptom management 2017-04-22 End-of-life care

    Consultations appear to reduce acute care use and (potentially) burdensome transitions for dying residents with dementia.

  23. Nursing home manager's knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about advance care planning for people with dementia in long‐term care settings: a cross‐sectional survey

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2017-02-09 Health systems and care delivery

    Whilst nursing home managers recognise the potential benefits of advance care planning, barriers and challenges create a reluctance to facilitate.

    Why it matters

    This survey of nursing home managers in the UK found they lacked knowledge of advance care planning and held negative attitudes, with concerns about capacity and perceived lack of benefit to the person with dementia. Managers did not view advance care planning as part of their role, and this lack of ownership affected current practice.

  24. Age and Graphomotor Decision Making Assessed with the Digital Clock Drawing Test: The Framingham Heart Study

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD 2017-01-01 Digital health tools

    Longer age-related decision making latencies may reflect a greater need for working memory and increased self-monitoring in older subjects.

    Why it matters

    This study used a digital Clock Drawing Test in stroke- and dementia-free participants and found age-related differences in total time to completion, pen stroke count, and higher-order decision making latencies. The authors suggest these latency measures have potential to serve as neurocognitive biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

  25. Epidemiology of stroke in Europe and trends for the 21st century

    ✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 43 out of 100. Presse medicale (Paris, France : 1983) 2016-11-02 Prevention and risk

    Despite major improvements in primary prevention and acute treatment over the last decades, stroke is still a devastating disease.

    Why it matters

    This review reports that within the first year after a stroke, 7% to 23% of patients develop dementia and 35% to 47% develop mild cognitive disorder. It notes that stroke incidence in young adults is rising and that the absolute number of strokes is expected to increase with the ageing population, highlighting stroke prevention and post-stroke care as important.

From across this topic

10 of the 7,967 studies in this topic, picked by a fixed rule (a hash of each study's address), not by score or date; each page of this list shows a different 10. The same 10 appear here every time.

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