Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are thought to be the “defining disease of the boomer generation” and will have enormous personal and societal costs over the next several decades. Understanding normal cognitive aging will help primary care providers (PCPs) to recognize what is and is not “normal” for their patients as they age and will assist them in counseling patients about cognitive concerns. While drugs and supplements have been uniformly disappointing in preventing cognitive decline, newer evidence suggests that lifestyle modification, such as healthy diet, exercise, creativity, cognitive stimulation, and good sleep, may be helpful. This chapter reviews normal cognitive aging and the evidence for healthy habits in preventing cognitive decline and provides tips for PCPs to counsel patients on maintaining a health brain.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | New Directions in Geriatric Medicine |
Subtitle of host publication | Concepts, Trends, and Evidence-Based Practice |
Publisher | Springer International Publishing |
Pages | 1-12 |
Number of pages | 12 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783319281377 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783319281353 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2016 |
Keywords
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
- Diet
- Exercise
- Mild cognitive impairment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine