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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Among 2699 articles initially screened, 21 studies were included, encompassing over 1 million participants.
Why it matters
This review of 21 studies found that artificial intelligence models predicted dementia with good accuracy on average, but external validation was limited and calibration and generalizability remained challenges. These are prediction tools, not treatments, cures, or prevention.
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74,396 patients (median age 84, IQR 78-89; 68% female) were analyzed.
Why it matters
Machine learning algorithms, including logistic regression, were developed and validated to predict short- and long-term mortality in older hip fracture patients, 18% of whom had dementia. This information may inform shared decision-making, but the study is about predicting mortality after hip fracture, not about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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CogDrisk-ML outperformed CAIDE in the UK Biobank and Whitehall II cohorts; however, it provided similar C statistics in the ARIC dataset.
Why it matters
The CogDrisk-ML algorithm for assessing dementia risk in midlife outperformed CAIDE in two cohorts but provided similar results in a third. Combined with the late-life CogDrisk tool, it offers a framework for dementia risk assessment across the life course, though it is a risk prediction tool rather than a treatment.
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The CITA GO-ON Study, as a part of the World-Wide FINGERS network, is designed to validate the efficacy of a multidomain lifestyle intervention for dementia prevention and contribute valuable data to inform public health strategies fostering healthy, active aging.
Why it matters
This is a protocol and recruitment report for a two-year randomized controlled trial testing a multidomain lifestyle intervention against regular health advice in 1051 adults aged 60-85 at risk of cognitive decline. No outcome results are reported yet, so it cannot yet say whether the intervention prevents cognitive decline.
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Data collection commenced in November 2023 and finished in July 2024, with the enrollment of 49 older adults with MCI (n=40, 81.6%, assigned to the experimental group [EG] and n=9, 18.4%, to the control group [CG]) conducted from October 2023 to April 2024.
Why it matters
This is a protocol describing a social robot-based intervention for older adults with mild cognitive impairment, with results not yet published. No conclusions about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease can be drawn from it.
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Between October 2021 and June 2022, 53 candidates were assessed; 29 met eligibility criteria and were randomised.
Why it matters
This feasibility trial of nabiximols for agitation in Alzheimer's dementia did not meet its prespecified feasibility thresholds. It was designed to explore feasibility and safety, not to test efficacy.
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59/100
Aging is associated with physiological changes that increase the risk of falls, impacting functional independence and quality of life.
Why it matters
This trial tested a 30-week multicomponent exercise program in 40 older women and found significant improvements in mobility, lower limb strength and flexibility, which the authors link to reduced fall risk. It did not measure or report any effect on Alzheimer's disease, dementia or cognitive decline.
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Eighty older adults with MCI (median age 86.50 years) participated, with an average attendance rate of 86.25% in the intervention group.
Why it matters
A 14-week integrated social-art intervention improved global cognitive function in nursing home residents with mild cognitive impairment at the end of the intervention, but the benefits were not sustained at follow-up. This is a small trial of short-term cognitive activation and does not show a treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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The incidence of the first episode of delirium after hip surgery in the elderly was 1.87 events per 1000 PYs.
Why it matters
After hip fracture surgery in older Taiwanese patients, delirium was relatively uncommon but was more likely in those with advanced age, female gender, comorbid dementia and longer ICU stays. The findings point to the need for targeted prevention and early intervention, though the study did not test any specific preventive strategy.
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Among all participants, 247 (11.7%) had IADL limitations at baseline, and 151 (7.1%) developed dementia during follow-up.
Why it matters
Older adults in the community who had limitations in daily activities had a higher risk of developing dementia, and having both mild cognitive impairment and these limitations raised risk more than either alone. The authors say this combination should be carefully monitored to help prevent dementia.
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Less EQ and YoE were associated with brain alterations across groups.
Why it matters
In 7,533 people across 20 countries, both fewer years of education and lower education quality were associated with brain alterations, with education quality having a stronger influence. It is a cross-sectional study of education and brain health, not a test of treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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The ACT group reported significantly greater improvements in stress (P=.043) and psychological QoL (P=.014) in the posttest compared to the control group.
Why it matters
In this pilot randomized controlled trial, videoconference-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy led to significantly greater improvements in stress and psychological quality of life compared to the control group, and within the ACT group depressive symptoms decreased by amounts exceeding the estimated minimal clinically important difference. The study is described as a pilot and shows promise for caregiver mental health, not for treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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NPS were highly prevalent (≥90%) in early and late bvFTD.
Why it matters
Neuropsychiatric symptoms were very common in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and fell into four clusters, with some symptoms fluctuating across visits while others persisted. Because some symptoms fluctuate, the authors say they may not be reliable markers of disease progression or stage.
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59/100
We identified 1143 dementia-free individuals with acute stroke during follow-up: 1061 (92.8%) ischemic, 82 (7.2%) hemorrhagic, 49.9% female, and 30.8% Black.
Why it matters
Among 1143 dementia-free people who had a stroke, survivors showed declines in global cognition, executive function, and memory, and these declines did not differ between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke or between small vessel and other ischemic subtypes. This describes post-stroke cognitive decline patterns but does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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The 2,641 participants had a mean (SD) age of 74 (2.8) years at baseline; 53 % were female, 36 % were of Black race, and had a range of baseline CKM: 3 % Stage 0 (no CKM), 4 % Stage 1 (excess/dysfunctional adiposity), 26 % Stage 2 (metabolic risk factors), 24 % Stage 3 (subclinical CVD and CKD), and 43 % Stage 4 (clinical CVD and CKD).
Why it matters
In this cohort of community-dwelling older adults, advanced cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome was associated with a 50% increase in dementia risk. The authors suggest close follow-up and proactive management of modifiable risk factors, but the study reports an association, not a proven prevention.
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These findings suggest that promoting CVH in older adults may help alleviate the burden of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly among Black adults, who are known to experience a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease.
Why it matters
In 1,018 older adults, this cohort study examined whether cardiovascular health scores were associated with blood markers of neurodegeneration such as NfL and total tau. It addresses whether healthy lifestyle and vascular risk management relate to these markers, not whether they prevent Alzheimer's disease.
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Two hundred eighty dyads were enrolled. Caregivers during the intervention period reported lower levels of RSS of 0.7 points (standard deviation [SD]: 0.8) compared to the caregivers in the control period.
Why it matters
In this randomized controlled trial, the LIVE intervention did not reduce caregiver burden or care time, with both differences not statistically significant. It did improve caregivers' clinical global impression of change, most notably for coordinator personalized support.
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In addition to outperforming existing plasma biomarkers, the dSST predicted mid-life dementia risk over a 20-year follow-up across two independent cohorts with different ethnic backgrounds (areas under the curve [AUCs]: dSST 0.68-0.70, dSST+age 0.75-0.81).
Why it matters
A plasma protein test predicted dementia risk up to 20 years later and was associated with cognitive decline and brain atrophy. This test could serve as a minimally invasive prognostic aid, though it is not yet a treatment or cure.
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We identified a total of 1,686,759 patients with incident dementia (mean (SD) age, 82.15 (6.90) years; 61.70% female) and 3,373,518 matched controls (mean (SD) age, 82.15 (6.90) years; 61.70% female).
Why it matters
This large case-control study of 1,686,759 people with incident dementia found that 56 of 63 risk factors and prodromal features were associated with increased dementia risk, with the greatest risk from delirium, memory impairment, mental retardation, personality and behavioral disorders, sensory disorders, schizophrenia, and psychosis. It notes that some of these may be prodromal features rather than risk factors and may help identify people with dementia in routine care, but it does not test a treatment or cure.
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Among the 11 risk factors, educational attainment has the greatest impact on dementia risk and cognitive decline.
Why it matters
Across three cohorts, low education level was linked to higher dementia risk and faster cognitive decline, and having more modifiable risk factors was linked to higher dementia risk. These are observational associations and do not show that changing these factors prevents dementia.
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(n = 16,683) had an average age of 69.07 ± 7.34, 72.04% were female, and had an average of 16.66 ± 2.26 years of education.
Why it matters
This study found that baseline subjective cognitive change predicted longitudinal decline on neuropsychological tests in an unsupervised online setting. Online self-administered measures might help identify individuals with cognitive impairment, but no treatment or cure is tested.
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Cognition-oriented treatments (COTs) are a group of non-pharmacological treatments aimed at maintaining or improving cognitive functioning.
Why it matters
This review found that group and individual cognitive stimulation helped support cognitive function in people with dementia at any severity, and cognitive training helped global cognition in mild dementia. Cognitive rehabilitation improved functional abilities in mild dementia and was most effective for caregiver outcomes, including reduced care burden.
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A brain transcriptomic profile for healthy diets revealed novel genes potentially associated with cognitive health.
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However, the effect sizes were small.
Why it matters
This review of 35 studies found that eHealth interventions targeting multiple lifestyle behaviors increased smoking cessation and may improve physical activity and diet in older adults, though effect sizes were small. This concerns lifestyle risk behaviors, not directly treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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DCR outperforms the MMSE in detecting and classifying cognitive impairment-in a fraction of the time-while being not influenced by a patient's ethnicity.
Why it matters
In this study of 706 participants, the Digital Clock and Recall was superior to the Mini-Mental State Examination in classifying mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, with an AUC of 0.70 versus 0.63. DCR administration was also significantly faster, suggesting it may help address the need for practical cognitive assessments in primary care.
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.
- Social isolation and cognitive decline in older adults: a longitudinal study across 24 countries
- Association of Lifestyle and Genetic Risk With Incidence of Dementia
- Oral health status and need for oral care of care-dependent indwelling elderly: from admission to death
- Forgoing artificial nutrition and hydration in nursing home patients with dementia: patients, decision making, and participants
- Effect of nutrition on neurodegenerative diseases. A systematic review
- After Risk-Adjustment Change, Dementia Diagnoses Increased In Medicare Advantage Relative To Traditional Medicare
- Development and psychometric evaluation of a learning needs assessment tool for healthcare professionals in palliative dementia care: A cross-sectional study
- Cognitive Function in Individuals With Physical Frailty but Without Dementia or Cognitive Complaints: Results From the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study
- Social inequalities in multimorbidity, frailty, disability, and transitions to mortality: a 24-year follow-up of the Whitehall II cohort study
- Clinical features and multidisciplinary approaches to dementia care