About this Research Topic
Cognitive decline and dementia present a significant and growing public health challenge, imposing substantial burdens on individuals, families, and society. As of now, over 55 million people are living with dementia worldwide, and an alarming 10 million new cases are reported annually. Due to the complex and largely irreversible nature, curative solutions for dementia are lacking. This highlights the importance of preventing or delaying the onset or progress of dementia in its early stages.
This issue grapples with the intricate interplay between cognitive decline, dementia, and various chronic conditions. For example, both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia exhibit overlapping pathophysiological processes with cardiovascular disease (CVD), including but not limited to atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Moreover, CVD per se can cause dementia by leading to decreased blood flow to brain tissues. Management of CVD risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and prevention of downstream events, not only reduce the direct impact of CVD but also to prevent the adverse accumulative and resultant effects on the brain predisposing a higher dementia risk.
A pivotal ancillary strategy is to identify and repurpose extant pharmacological treatments which could help reduce dementia and cognitive decline. Numerous studies have been conducted investigating the potential benefits of medications for prevention and treatment of other chronic conditions, in preventing and slowing the progress of dementia and cognitive impairment. However, evidence has been inconsistent and the underlying biological mechanisms for the observed associations remains uncertain.
In light of this, this Research Topic seeks to gather the latest evidence in regards to the role of medications for the treatment of chronic conditions, and to determine how targeting these conditions could prevent and/or slow the progression of cognitive decline and dementia. This collection welcomes original research, reviews, mini reviews, short reports in the following research areas:
• Epidemiological studies exploring the role of pharmacological treatments for treating other chronic conditions on cognitive decline and dementia.
• Studies exploring the biological mechanisms (e.g., genetics, cellular, or molecular) underlying the relationship between pharmacological treatment for other chronic conditions and cognitive decline and dementia.
Please note that other chronic conditions refer to conditions that are prevalent in older adults but not rare diseases.
This issue grapples with the intricate interplay between cognitive decline, dementia, and various chronic conditions. For example, both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia exhibit overlapping pathophysiological processes with cardiovascular disease (CVD), including but not limited to atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Moreover, CVD per se can cause dementia by leading to decreased blood flow to brain tissues. Management of CVD risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and prevention of downstream events, not only reduce the direct impact of CVD but also to prevent the adverse accumulative and resultant effects on the brain predisposing a higher dementia risk.
A pivotal ancillary strategy is to identify and repurpose extant pharmacological treatments which could help reduce dementia and cognitive decline. Numerous studies have been conducted investigating the potential benefits of medications for prevention and treatment of other chronic conditions, in preventing and slowing the progress of dementia and cognitive impairment. However, evidence has been inconsistent and the underlying biological mechanisms for the observed associations remains uncertain.
In light of this, this Research Topic seeks to gather the latest evidence in regards to the role of medications for the treatment of chronic conditions, and to determine how targeting these conditions could prevent and/or slow the progression of cognitive decline and dementia. This collection welcomes original research, reviews, mini reviews, short reports in the following research areas:
• Epidemiological studies exploring the role of pharmacological treatments for treating other chronic conditions on cognitive decline and dementia.
• Studies exploring the biological mechanisms (e.g., genetics, cellular, or molecular) underlying the relationship between pharmacological treatment for other chronic conditions and cognitive decline and dementia.
Please note that other chronic conditions refer to conditions that are prevalent in older adults but not rare diseases.
Keywords: Neurodegenerative Disease, Dementia, Cognitive Decline, Risk factor, biomarker, Alzheimer’s
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