Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Karolinski Institute, Lancet / 13.03.2015
Lifestyle Factors May Limit Cognitive Decline
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Miia Kivipelto MD, PhD, Professor
Deputy Head, Senior Geriatrician
Aging Research Center and Alzheimer Disease Research Center
Karolinska Institutet Clinical Trials Unit, Memory Clinic
Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm, Sweden
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Kivipelto: Epidemiological studies have linked several modifiable risk factors to cognitive impairment and dementia but evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) has been lacking showing the efficacy of the interventions. Because cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are complex, multi-factorial disorders, multidomain interventions targeting several risk factors and disease mechanisms simultaneously could be needed for optimum preventive effect. The FINGER study is the first large, long-term RCT indicating that multi-domain intervention can improve and maintain cognitive functioning in at risk elderly people from the general population. We observed a significant intervention effects on the primary outcome (overall cognition), main secondary outcomes (executive functioning and processing speed) as well as on complex memory tasks and risk of cognitive decline. The multidomain lifestyle intervention was feasible and safe.
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