About this Research Topic
Lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, cognitive activity, healthy social engagement, and diet have become the focus of brain health and dementia prevention, given the failure of pharmacological treatment to fundamentally reduce dementia risk. Age and genetics are non-modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. However, we now have evidence that lifestyle behaviors can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia even among older adults with high genetic risk.
Cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are worldwide problems that disproportionately affect persons with fewer resources throughout their lifespan. Low and middle-income countries currently have a higher incidence of ADRD compared to high-income countries. Individuals with fewer resources, even if they live in high-income countries, are diagnosed at earlier ages and more often than individuals with more resources.
The goal of this Research Topic is to spotlight the latest research findings about the connections between lifestyle and brain aging or dementia, including interventions that support brain health in diverse communities around the globe. Particularly, we wish to highlight the newest insights on the role of lifestyle in maintaining brain health in healthy adults who are at risk for cognitive decline - from mid-life to the very old – and promoting brain health in people with cognitive decline and dementia. This Research Topic will contribute to advancing the knowledge on the potential risk factors of cognitive decline, including family history, unhealthy lifestyle, chronic physical and mental health conditions, or low educational attainment. We aspire to generate many ideas that expand how we conceptualize interventions for dementia prevention in persons at the highest risk.
With this aim, we welcome the submission of any type of manuscript supported by the journal (including Original Research, Review, Brief Research Reports, etc.) describing novel insights on the impact of lifestyle on brain aging and dementia, the underlying neurobiology, and the interventions aimed at maintaining brain health and reducing cognitive decline. The expected content includes but is not limited to the following themes:
- Diversity of lifestyle areas and interventions (physical activity, cognitive activity, social engagement, food intake, alcohol abuse or drug abuse, pet relations, etc).
- Impact of lifestyle factors on risk factors and biomarkers of cognitive decline and dementia.
- Interaction between environmental and lifestyle factors.
- Neurobiological underpinnings linking lifestyle to risk factors or biomarkers of dementia.
- Intervention programs targeting lifestyle.
- Ecological validity of interventions for harder-to-reach groups (old adults, people with low degree of education or low resources, cultural or religious barriers, etc).
- Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies which will help the planning of future RCTs aiming at reducing ADRD at the individual, population, and global levels.
Cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are worldwide problems that disproportionately affect persons with fewer resources throughout their lifespan. Low and middle-income countries currently have a higher incidence of ADRD compared to high-income countries. Individuals with fewer resources, even if they live in high-income countries, are diagnosed at earlier ages and more often than individuals with more resources.
The goal of this Research Topic is to spotlight the latest research findings about the connections between lifestyle and brain aging or dementia, including interventions that support brain health in diverse communities around the globe. Particularly, we wish to highlight the newest insights on the role of lifestyle in maintaining brain health in healthy adults who are at risk for cognitive decline - from mid-life to the very old – and promoting brain health in people with cognitive decline and dementia. This Research Topic will contribute to advancing the knowledge on the potential risk factors of cognitive decline, including family history, unhealthy lifestyle, chronic physical and mental health conditions, or low educational attainment. We aspire to generate many ideas that expand how we conceptualize interventions for dementia prevention in persons at the highest risk.
With this aim, we welcome the submission of any type of manuscript supported by the journal (including Original Research, Review, Brief Research Reports, etc.) describing novel insights on the impact of lifestyle on brain aging and dementia, the underlying neurobiology, and the interventions aimed at maintaining brain health and reducing cognitive decline. The expected content includes but is not limited to the following themes:
- Diversity of lifestyle areas and interventions (physical activity, cognitive activity, social engagement, food intake, alcohol abuse or drug abuse, pet relations, etc).
- Impact of lifestyle factors on risk factors and biomarkers of cognitive decline and dementia.
- Interaction between environmental and lifestyle factors.
- Neurobiological underpinnings linking lifestyle to risk factors or biomarkers of dementia.
- Intervention programs targeting lifestyle.
- Ecological validity of interventions for harder-to-reach groups (old adults, people with low degree of education or low resources, cultural or religious barriers, etc).
- Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational studies which will help the planning of future RCTs aiming at reducing ADRD at the individual, population, and global levels.
Keywords: lifestyle, environment, brain health, dementia, risk factors, biomarkers, ecological validity, healthcare disparities
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
