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.
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Prevention of cognitive impairment and dementia is an important public health goal.
Why it matters
This systematic review assessed whether different strategies for managing Type 2 diabetes affect cognitive function and the incidence of dementia, based on evidence linking diabetes to cognitive impairment. The provided text does not report the results, so it is unknown whether any diabetes treatment approach reduces dementia risk.
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The overall effect size (Hedges' g, random effects model) for CCT versus control was small and statistically significant, g = 0.22 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.29).
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We aimed to synthesise data on risk factors for incident delirium and where possible conduct meta-analysis of these.
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81/100
Community-dwelling older adults with pain were more likely to have fallen in the past 12 months and to fall again in the future.
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AF is independently associated with increased risk of dementia.
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The effects were not statistically significant on other outcomes.
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80/100
In this meta-analysis of the association of physical activity with cognitive decline, physical activity was associated with better late-life cognition, but the association was weak.
Why it matters
This meta-analysis of 104 studies found that physical activity was associated with better late-life cognition, but the association was weak, and there was no significant association in follow-ups longer than 10 years. The findings do not show that physical activity prevents cognitive decline.
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Good sleep is essential for health, yet associations between sleep and dementia risk remain incompletely understood.
Why it matters
This consortium study investigated how sleep architecture and obstructive sleep apnea relate to cognitive function across five population-based cohorts. It examines associations with cognition but does not test whether treating sleep problems prevents dementia.
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The first single-stage individual patient data meta-analysis from randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials provides evidence to support benefits of antihypertensive treatment in late-mid and later life to lower the risk of dementia.
Why it matters
This pooled analysis of individual participant data from five randomized placebo-controlled trials, including 28,008 people, found that antihypertensive treatment reduced the risk of incident dementia with a mean blood pressure lowering of 10/4 mmHg. It supports blood pressure lowering as a way to reduce dementia risk in hypertensive patients, but it is about prevention rather than treating existing dementia.
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The global prevalence of MCI among community dwellers is over 15% and is affected by age, gender, education level and region of study sites.
Why it matters
This systematic review and meta-analysis found the overall global prevalence of mild cognitive impairment among community dwellers aged 50 and older was 15.56%. Prevalence increased with age and decreased with education level, and the authors say assessment and interventions targeting mild cognitive impairment within at-risk subgroups should be considered toward dementia prevention.
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Multidomain lifestyle changes are beneficial for cognitive functioning, but future interventions should be intensive enough, and supporting adherence is essential.
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80/100
Memantine is a moderate affinity uncompetitive antagonist of glutamate NMDA receptors.
Why it matters
This review examined the efficacy and safety of memantine for people with dementia, including whether it adds benefit for those already taking cholinesterase inhibitors. Memantine is licensed for moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease and is also widely used off-label for mild Alzheimer's disease in the USA.
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Older people with SMC but no objective complaints are twice as likely to develop dementia as individuals without SMC.
Why it matters
This meta-analysis found that older people with subjective memory complaints but no objective deficits were about twice as likely to develop dementia as those without such complaints, with annual conversion rates of 2.33% to dementia and 6.67% to mild cognitive impairment. It identifies a group at higher risk but does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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During the CEE plus MPA intervention phase, the numbers of CHD cases were 196 for CEE plus MPA vs 159 for placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 1.18; 95% CI, 0.95-1.45) and 206 vs 155, respectively, for invasive breast cancer (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.01-1.53).
Why it matters
This report on menopausal hormone therapy found a complex pattern of risks and benefits, with some outcomes like breast cancer and heart disease showing increased risk during the intervention phase. It did not focus on dementia outcomes.
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We identified 22 hospital-based and eight population-based eligible cohorts (7511 patients) described in 73 papers.
Why it matters
This systematic review examined the prevalence and risk factors for dementia before and after stroke. It aimed to clarify conflicting data to help inform patients, carers, and service planning.
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In this study of adults with subjective memory impairment, a 6-month program of physical activity provided a modest improvement in cognition over an 18-month follow-up period.
Why it matters
In this randomized trial in Perth, Australia, 170 adults aged 50 or older who reported memory problems but did not have dementia were assigned either to a 24-week home-based physical activity program or to education and usual care. At the end of the program, the exercise group scored 1.3 points better than the usual-care group on the ADAS-Cog memory-and-thinking test (95% CI −2.38 to −0.22; scale 0–70), which the authors call "a modest improvement in cognition over an 18-month follow-up period." Several other thinking and mood measures did not change significantly, 138 of 170 participants completed the 18-month assessment, and the trial did not measure whether anyone developed dementia.
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In the estrogen-alone trial, 47 participants were diagnosed with probable dementia, of whom 28 were assigned to CEE and 19 to placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-2.66).
Why it matters
In the estrogen-alone arm of the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study, 28 women assigned to conjugated equine estrogens and 19 assigned to placebo were diagnosed with probable dementia (hazard ratio 1.49; 95% CI 0.83–2.66). That range includes no difference, so this trial on its own did not show a statistically significant effect. When the data were pooled "per the original WHIMS protocol", the overall hazard ratio was 1.76 (95% CI 1.19–2.60; P = .005). Neither result suggests this hormone protected against dementia.
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For women aged 65 years or older, hormone therapy had an adverse effect on cognition, which was greater among women with lower cognitive function at initiation of treatment.
Why it matters
In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 2,808 women aged 65–79 who had had a hysterectomy, those given daily conjugated equine estrogen scored 0.26 points lower on average on a global thinking test (3MSE) than those on placebo over about 5.4 years. The study concluded that, for women 65 or older, "hormone therapy had an adverse effect on cognition, which was greater among women with lower cognitive function at initiation of treatment." It measured test scores, not Alzheimer's diagnoses, and does not show how estrogen affects younger women.
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In this randomized trial of dementia care programs, no significant differences existed between health system-based and community-based care interventions nor between either active intervention or usual care regarding patient behavioral symptoms and caregiver strain.
Why it matters
Neither health system-based nor community-based dementia care differed significantly from usual care, or from each other, on patient behavioral symptoms and caregiver strain. Only caregiver self-efficacy was significantly higher for both treatments versus usual care, so the main goals of the programs were not met.
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The task force issued five statements related to the management of anxiety, agitation/sedation, delirium, immobility, and sleep disruption in adults admitted to the ICU.
Why it matters
This guideline update covers sedation, delirium, immobility and sleep in intensive care patients, not Alzheimer's disease itself. It makes conditional recommendations on dexmedetomidine, enhanced mobilization and melatonin, but could not recommend benzodiazepines for anxiety or antipsychotics for delirium.
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Two reviewers independently screened the search results and reference lists of the identified papers and related reviews.
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Antihypertensive use was associated with decreased AD but not non-AD risk throughout late life.
Why it matters
This individual participant data meta-analysis of 31,250 people found that antihypertensive use was associated with decreased Alzheimer dementia risk but not non-Alzheimer dementia risk throughout late life. It suggests that treating hypertension in late life remains important for reducing Alzheimer dementia risk, though it does not show a treatment or cure.
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Within 17 months, participant recruitment has been successfully completed (N = 1210; mean age: 67.7 years (SD: 4.6); 64% female).
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The Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet seems a promising approach to preserve brain function during aging.
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Few nutritional interventions were found to convincingly improve cognition of individuals with MCI.
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.
- Prevalence of dementia in an elderly rural population: effects of age, sex, and education
- Association of motoric cognitive risk syndrome with falls in older adults: findings from three longitudinal studies
- Baseline Statin Exposure and Incident Acute Myocardial Infarction in Adults Aged >=75 Years Without Prior Cardiovascular Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study
- Subjective memory complaints in the elderly: depressive symptoms and future dementia
- The suprachiasmatic nucleus of the human brain in relation to sex, age and senile dementia
- Efficacy, safety and tolerability of rivastigmine capsules in patients with probable vascular dementia: the VantagE study
- Caregiving and institutionalization of cognitively impaired older people: utilizing dynamic predictors of change
- Factors associated with frequent use of emergency-department services in a geriatric population: a systematic review
- Chronic behavioral disorders of human REM sleep: a new category of parasomnia
- The General Medical Health Rating: a bedside global rating of medical comorbidity in patients with dementia