Lifestyle Interventions to Prevent and Treat Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

Introduction

More than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide. By 2050, the population affected by dementia will exceed 139 million individuals. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a pre-dementia stage, also known as prodromal dementia, affecting older adults. MCI emerges years before the manifestation of dementia but can be avoidable and reversible. Although individuals carrying the APOE E4 gene have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, lifestyle is the major risk factor for the development of any dementia. Exercise, diet, sleep, and stress management appear to be some of the several lifestyle behaviors to prevent and treat cognitive disorders in aging individuals. However, the neurobiological mechanisms of different aspects of a healthy lifestyle and their relationship with clinical outcomes vary and are not completely understood. This Special Issue aims to explore these mechanisms by providing an overview of translational literature from pre-clinical to clinical studies. It is relevant to establish concepts, update information, and provide practical applications.

Keywords

Alzheimer´s disease, exercise, physical activity, diet, sleep, cognition, cognitive impairment, APOE4, tau protein, amyloid

Sub-topics

1. Different types of exercise and their effects on the neuroplasticity of rodents and humans.


2. Active lifestyle and cognitive disorders in the aging population.


3. Intermittent fasting, neurobiology, and clinical findings on cognitive functions.


4. The use of probiotics and prebiotics and their relationship with cognition in the aging process.


5. Sleep deprivation, cognitive impairment, and dementia.


6. Mind-body and integrative activities, stress, anxiety, depression, and cognition in older adults.