Preventing What’s Preventable in Dementia

Older Americans fear Alzheimer’s disease and look to their primary care physicians regarding what can be done to ensure independent functioning and a high quality of life in their later years. Although there has been a 99.9% failure rate for Alzheimer’s drugs since the turn of the century, there is growing consensus by teams of international scientists that about 40% of dementia cases worldwide can be attributed to modifiable risk factors, suggesting that actions are possible to delay or prevent dementia on an individual basis by lifestyle changes and on a population level through public health policies impacting the environment and public safety. This chapter provides practical suggestions on how to raise the topic of brain health, describes when screening for dementia is appropriate, reviews the current evidence for modifiable factors and sustainable interventions, and offers resources for patients and families treated in primary care settings.