Month: March 2023

Fear of dementia and public sharing of research results.

Graham M. Farina F, Ritchie C, Lawlor B, Naci L.

Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics. 31: 4, 498–505 (2022)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0963180122000408

Summary

A general obligation to make aggregate research results available to participants has been widely supported in the bioethics literature. However, dementia research presents several challenges to this perspective, particularly because of the fear associated with developing dementia. The authors argue that considerations of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice fail to justify an obligation to make aggregate research results available to participants in dementia research. Nevertheless, there are positive reasons in favor of making aggregate research results available; when the decision is made to do so, it is critical that a clear strategy for communicating results is developed, including what support will be provided to participants receiving aggregate research results.

Modifiable lifestyle activities affect cognition in cognitively healthy middle-aged individuals at risk for late-life Alzheimer’s Disease

Amy Heneghan, Feng Deng, Katie Wells, Karen Ritchie, Graciela Muniz-Terrera , Craig W Ritchie, Brian Lawlor, Lorina Naci.

Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (2022).

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-220267

Summary

Mid-life lifestyle factors, including occupation, as well as engagement in physical, social and intellectual activities were evaluated. The impact of risk and protective lifestyle factors was measured in three aspects of cognition, verbal and visual memory, visual short-term memory and visuospatial function. Lifestyle activities significantly impacted cognition in mid-life. More frequent engagement in physically, socially and intellectually stimulating activities was associated with better verbal and visual memory, both at baseline and at follow-up. Critically, a significant association was also found between family history of dementia with lifestyle and visuospatial function, at follow-up. Impaired visuospatial function is one of the earliest cognitive deficits in AD. These findings suggest that modifiable lifestyle activities may offset AD risk-related cognitive decrements in mid-life, and support the targeting of stimulating lifestyle activities for the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease.