Risk Factors, Intervention and Prevention of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

Dear Colleagues,

Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function, affecting memory, language, reasoning, and daily functioning. Among the various types of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common, accounting for 60–80% of cases globally. First described in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist and neurologist, Alzheimer's disease was initially identified in the case of a woman exhibiting memory loss, confusion, and unpredictable behavior—symptoms now known as hallmarks of the disease.

Over the decades, advancements in neuroscience have revealed that AD is linked to the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein in the brain. Historically considered an inevitable consequence of aging, dementia is now understood to have modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, including age, genetics (e.g., APOE-ε4), vascular health, education, and lifestyle.

Early research mainly focused on disease pathology, but studies in recent decades have expanded into intervention and prevention strategies, such as physical activity, cognitive training, social engagement, and cardiovascular risk control. With rising global life expectancy, the prevalence of dementia is increasing, making prevention a major public health goal. A growing body of evidence now supports a lifespan approach to reduce dementia risk through targeted interventions across midlife and older age.
Thus, the primary aim of this Special Issue is to explore the underlying risk factors contributing to the onset and progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and to identify evidence-based interventions and preventive strategies that can delay or reduce the burden of these neurodegenerative disorders.

This topic encompasses a multidisciplinary examination of the following:

• Genetic, metabolic, and environmental risk factors such as APOE-ε4 allele, insulin resistance, cardiovascular health, diet, education, and lifestyle habits.
• Pathophysiological mechanisms including amyloid-β deposition, tau pathology, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
• Early diagnosis and biomarkers for identifying high-risk individuals and tracking disease progression.
• Therapeutic interventions, including pharmacological treatments, lifestyle modifications (exercise, diet, cognitive engagement), and neuroprotective agents.
• Preventive strategies at both individual and public health levels, with an emphasis on modifiable risk factors and early-life-to-midlife prevention models.
• Recent advances in neuroimaging, genetics, and personalized medicine approaches.

We welcome research and discussion from neuroscience, public health, geriatrics, clinical psychology, and pharmacology to provide a comprehensive understanding of and integrative strategies for tackling dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Cutting-edge research in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is rapidly evolving, focusing on identifying modifiable risk factors, developing novel interventions, and implementing preventive strategies.Recent studies have highlighted the potential to prevent or delay up to 45% of dementia cases by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, hearing loss, smoking, physical inactivity, and social isolation

Risk Factors and Prevention:

• Dietary Patterns: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been associated with a 31% reduction in the risk of cognitive impairment and a 28% decrease in Alzheimer's-related mortality.
• Vaccinations and Medications: Emerging evidence suggests that certain vaccines, such as the shingles vaccine, and medications like GLP-1 agonists and sildenafil may lower dementia risk by reducing inflammation and improving vascular health.

• Technology Use: Engagement with digital technologies, including computers and smartphones, has been linked to a 58% lower risk of cognitive impairment, potentially due to increased cognitive stimulation.
• Lifestyle Modifications: Regular physical activity, mental stimulation, and social engagement are recommended to maintain cognitive health.
• Pharmacological Advances:Novel therapeutic agents targeting amyloid-beta and tau proteins are under investigation, aiming to slow disease progression
• Emerging Therapies: Compounds like ACD856, a positive allosteric modulator of Trk receptors, are being explored for their neuroprotective properties in AD treatment. These advancements underscore the importance of a multifaceted approach to dementia and Alzheimer's disease, combining lifestyle interventions with emerging medical therapies to mitigate risk and enhance cognitive resilience.

What kind of papers we are soliciting:

1. Original Research Articles

• Epidemiological studies on risk factors (e.g., age, genetics, lifestyle, comorbidities)
• Clinical trials testing preventive or therapeutic interventions (diet, exercise, pharmacological, cognitive therapy)
• Molecular studies identifying biomarkers for early detection or progression
• Studies on metabolic, vascular, or inflammatory contributors to Alzheimer’s

2. Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

• Summarizing current knowledge on preventive interventions (e.g., Mediterranean diet, physical activity)
• Evaluating the efficacy of medications (e.g., anti-amyloid therapies, neuroprotective agents)
• Reviewing modifiable risk factors (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, sleep disturbances)

3. Mechanistic or Translational Studies

• Investigating molecular pathways (e.g., amyloid-beta, tau, oxidative stress, insulin resistance)
• Preclinical models (e.g., animal or cellular models) evaluating preventive strategies

4. Perspective, Commentary, or Opinion Pieces

• Insights into public health approaches for dementia prevention
• Ethical considerations in early diagnosis and risk communication
• Future directions in dementia research and policy

5. Intervention Studies

• Lifestyle-based interventions: Cognitive training, social engagement, dietary patterns, exercise
• Pharmacological interventions: New drugs or drug repurposing
• Technological innovations: Digital tools for risk assessment, remote cognitive interventions

Focus Areas within the Topic

• Genetic risk (e.g., APOE ε4)
• Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk
• Environmental and psychosocial factors
• Education and cognitive reserve
• Early detection and prevention in mid-life

Dr. Muhammad Sohail Khan
Dr. Muhammad Ikram
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• dementia
• Alzheimer's disease
• cognitive decline
• neurodegeneration