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Target risk factors for dementia prevention: a systematic review and Delphi consensus study on the evidence from observational studies
Author(s) -
Deckers Kay,
Boxtel Martin P. J.,
Schiepers Olga J. G.,
Vugt Marjolein,
Muñoz Sánchez Juan Luis,
Anstey Kaarin J.,
Brayne Carol,
Dartigues JeanFrancois,
Engedal Knut,
Kivipelto Miia,
Ritchie Karen,
Starr John M,
Yaffe Kristine,
Irving Kate,
Verhey Frans R. J.,
Köhler Sebastian
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.4245
Subject(s) - dementia , observational study , medicine , systematic review , risk factor , gerontology , disease , psycinfo , medline , delphi method , pathology , statistics , mathematics , political science , law
Objective Dementia has a multifactorial etiology, but the importance of individual health and lifestyle related risk factors is often uncertain or based on few studies. The goal of this paper is to identify the major modifiable risk factors for dementia as a first step in developing an effective preventive strategy and promoting healthy late life cognitive functioning. Methods A mixed‐method approach combined findings from a systematic literature review and a Delphi consensus study. The literature search was conducted in PubMed and updated an earlier review by the United States National Institutes of Health from 2010. We reviewed the available evidence from observational epidemiological studies. The online Delphi study asked eight international experts to rank and weigh each risk factor for its importance for dementia prevention. Results Out of 3127 abstracts, 291 were included in the review. There was good agreement between modifiable risk factors identified in the literature review and risk factors named spontaneously by experts. After triangulation of both methods and re‐weighting by experts, strongest support was found for depression, (midlife) hypertension, physical inactivity, diabetes, (midlife) obesity, hyperlipidemia, and smoking, while more research is needed for coronary heart disease, renal dysfunction, diet, and cognitive activity. Conclusions Findings provide good support for several somatic and lifestyle factors and will be used to inform the design of a new multicenter trial into dementia prevention. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.