[Is it possible to reduce the prevalence of dementia? New approaches are needed to deal with dementia]

Abstract

Dementia is recognised as a public health problem with high incidence and prevalence, as well as an increase in its burden of disease and associated with mortality. The different treatments have not provided clinical results that modify the course of the disease or reduce its impact in terms of mortality or disability. This review indicates that it is feasible to avoid the development of dementia despite the fact that age continues to be an important non-modifiable risk factor. The control of widely recognised modifiable and aetiopathogenically-related factors can decrease the number of cases of dementia. Multimodal interventions focused on the control of these risk factors continue to show inconsistent results; therefore, new trials should be carried out in addition to applying the clinical precision medicine approach that provides evidence to improve public health decision-making in order to address this problem.

Keywords: Atención primaria en salud; Demencia; Dementia; Factor de riesgo; Multimodal; Prevención primaria; Primary health care; Primary prevention; Risk factor.