Initiatives for preventing dementia

Abstract

The therapeutic effects of disease–modifying drugs have demonstrated that reversing the symptoms of dementia after its onset is difficult. The FINGER study published in 2015 revealed that multifactorial interventions, such as diet, exercise, and lifestyle, can preserve and enhance cognitive function in elderly individuals who are at risk of developing dementia. In Japan, a similar study has started in 2019, and we conducted a multifactorial intervention in Tamba citizens, in which the intervention group showed significantly improved cognitive function compared to the control group. Kobe University is developing activities called ‘CogniCare’ to implement the results in society. This paper discusses the challenges of social implementation preventing dementia, as well as the current status of evidence for its prevention.