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Dementia is 'a global challenge and a public health priority' accordingly to Dr Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization in a speech she delivered to a recent G8 summit on the condition. Her sentiments are shared by many current political leaders including Barack Obama and David Cameron, the UK prime minister who hosted the summit in London last year. He described it as 'the biggest challenge we face today' (UK Department of Health 2012) In addition to organising international initiatives, many countries including Australia, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, France and

Abstract Dementia is a substantial and increasing public health concern. Despite decades of research, a cure or effective preventative treatment for dementia remains elusive. We offer critical review of contemporary dementia research and discuss potential reasons why progress in the field has not been as rapid as in other disciplines. We adopt a broad approach in keeping with the broad nature of the topic. We cover the difficulties inherent in studying dementia from 'bench' to 'bedside' to 'population'. We make particular reference to issues of operationalisation of the dementia syndrome and our evolving understanding of dementia as a research 'outcome'. We discuss contemporary 'hot topics' in dementia research methodology focussing on dementia models, pre-dementia states and biomarkers. Recognising the importance of prospective epidemiological cohorts and large-scale clinical trials we pay particular attention to these approaches and the challenges of generating results that have 'real world' external validity. Based on our thoughts we end with suggestions for future dementia research. Our review is designed to be critical but not unnecessarily negative. There is reason for cautious optimism in dementia research. The recent G8 summit on dementia and subsequent establishment of the World Dementia Council are examples of initiatives that reflect societal and political will to increase research efforts in dementia.

Dementia is a substantial and increasing public health concern. Despite decades of research, a cure or effective preventative treatment for dementia remains elusive. We offer critical review of contemporary dementia research and discuss potential reasons why progress in the field has not been as rapid as in other disciplines. We adopt a broad approach in keeping with the broad nature of the topic. We cover the difficulties inherent in studying dementia from 'bench' to 'bedside' to 'population'. We make particular reference to issues of operationalisation of the dementia syndrome and our evolving understanding of dementia as a research 'outcome'. We discuss contemporary 'hot topics' in dementia research methodology focussing on dementia models, pre-dementia states and biomarkers. Recognising the importance of prospective epidemiological cohorts and large-scale clinical trials we pay particular attention to these approaches and the challenges of generating results that have 'real world' external validity. Based on our thoughts we end with suggestions for future dementia research. Our review is designed to be critical but not unnecessarily negative. There is reason for cautious optimism in dementia research. The recent G8 summit on dementia and subsequent establishment of the World Dementia Council are examples of initiatives that reflect societal and political will to increase research efforts in dementia.

Im März gab das Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung die Entscheidung bekannt, das Deutsche Demenzzentrum in Bonn anzusiedeln. Mit der zentralen Bündelung einschlägiger Kompetenz reagiert die Bundesregierung auf eine Krankheit, unter der allein in Deutschland rund anderthalb Millionen Menschen leiden.

Da sich das Demenzrisiko mit zunehmendem Alter erhöht, gilt die Krankheit in Zeiten steigender Lebenserwartung und einer wachsenden Zahl an Senioren inzwischen als gesellschaftliches Problem. Verschärft wird die Situation durch die Versorgungslage der Demenzkranken: Drei Viertel der Erkrankten werden zu Hause von ihren Angehörigen versorgt, die dadurch oft selbst an die Grenzen der eigenen körperlichen und psychischen Substanz stoßen; so ist häufig das Leben der ganzen Familie enormen Belastungen ausgesetzt. Doch auch das deutsche Gesundheitssystem ächzt unter den hohen Kosten, die Pflegedienste und Heime für Demenzkranke verursachen.

Aus diesem Grund wird, mit dem Helmholtz-Zentrum in Bonn als Speerspitze, die Forschung nach innovativen Präventionsmaßnahmen und Therapiemöglichkeiten eine entscheidende Rolle einnehmen.

This book is not about the past, which has gone. Or the future, which is uncertain. But it is for those who want to improve the lives of people with dementia and themselves in the Here and Now. The book is not written by an expert but by a man seeking to find new approaches concerning dementia who wishes to share his discoveries.Killick steers clear of any sort of medical terminology and instead nurtures the often neglected aspects of dementia, thereby reinforcing to the reader that these are of no lesser importance.In recognition that we are all in this together, Killick gives equal prominence to quotations from, and conversations with, people with dementia and their carers.

"This book puts the critical into dementia studies. It makes a timely and novel contribution to the field, offering a provocative and thought-provoking critique of current thinking and debate on dementia. Collectively the contributions gathered together in this text make a powerful case for a more politically engaged, deconstructive and critical treatment of dementia and the systems and structures that currently govern and frame it. The book is interdisciplinary and draws together leading dementia scholars alongside dementia activists from around the world. It frames dementia as first and foremost a political category. The book advances both theoretical and methodological thinking in the field as well as sharing learning from empirical research. Outlining the limits to existing efforts to frame and theorise the condition it proposes a new critical movement for the field of dementia studies and practice. The book will be of direct interest to researchers and scholars in the field of dementia studies and wider fields of health, disability and care. It will provide a novel resource for students and practitioners in the fields of dementia, health care and social care. The book also has implications for dementia policymaking, commissioning and community development"--

This book puts the critical into dementia studies. It makes a timely and novel contribution to the field, offering a thought-provoking critique of current thinking and debate on dementia. Collectively the contributions gathered together in this text make a powerful case for a more politically engaged and critical treatment of dementia and the systems and structures that currently govern and frame it.

The book is inter-disciplinary and draws together leading dementia scholars alongside dementia activists from around the world. It frames dementia as first and foremost a political category. The book advances both theoretical and methodological thinking in the field as well as sharing learning from empirical research. Outlining the limits to existing efforts to frame and theorise the condition, it proposes a new critical movement for the field of dementia studies and practice.

The book will be of direct interest to researchers and scholars in the field of dementia studies and wider fields of health, disability and care. It will provide a novel resource for students and practitioners in the fields of dementia, health care and social care. The book also has implications for dementia policymaking, commissioning and community development.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

In 2012, the U.K. government launched its Dementia Challenge, authorizing additional funding for dementia research and health care. The search for curative medicines is ongoing, but scientific research reveals evidence that music can play a positive role in general health, and in dementia and Alzheimer's disease in particular. This article considers whether some of the challenges that dementia presents could be addressed through music therapy and proposes that biometric gaming might offer one means of channeling such associated health benefits to sufferers of dementia, even in the final stages of the disease.

Purpose
Dementia is a growing problem worldwide, due to an ageing population. It has significant human and economic costs. There is no effective medical treatment. The paper aims to discuss these issues.


Design/methodology/approach
Using earlier reviews, the author discussed the difference between dementia and cognitive ageing and the different types of dementia, in terms of manifestation and pathology. The author reviewed non-modifiable risk factors for dementia, such as age, gender, genetics and education. Education can possibly have lifelong protective effects, as it may promote cognitive reserve. This paper focussed on lifestyle interventions to further increase brain reserve capacity. Findings from earlier reviews were summarised to provide guidelines for policymakers and practioners.


Findings
The reviews suggested that most nutritional approaches may have limited effectiveness, and should be implemented in midlife, before dementia symptoms are present and probably only in people who are actually nutritionally deficient. The author found a reasonable positive evidence base of engagement in cognitive and physical activities to prevent dementia, which may also help reduce symptoms of dementia.


Practical implications
From the studies reviewed, it was suggested that keeping physically and mentally active may help in all stages of life to prevent, but also reduce dementia symptoms. A focus on nutrition and treating heart disease risk factors is possibly limited to midlife, or before dementia symptoms are present.


Originality/value
The author used an evidence based approach to review which lifestyle interventions could help prevent dementia or reduce dementia symptoms. The main outcome of this paper was that stage of life and ability (dementia present or not) may interact with success of the intervention.

Dementia prevention: Raising awareness about dementia and risk reduction
We hear from Dr Anthony J. Levinson, who is part of an academic group developing evidence-based online resources to complement dementia prevention strategies and support care partners. The prevalence of dementia is increasing as our population ages. From a public health standpoint, we need to continue to try to prevent or delay conditions that lead to dementia while also striving to better support people living with dementia and their family/friend care partners. While age and other factors like genetics are important non-modifiable risk factors, there is increasing evidence that several modifiable risk factors account for up to 40% of dementias. While some factors – such as physical activity – may be familiar to some, other factors, such as hearing loss, blood pressure, or social activity, may be much less well-known to the public as risk factors for dementia. For individuals newly diagnosed with dementia or family/friends trying to support and care for their loved ones, they may have very little knowledge about the condition and what to expect. This is where access to easy-to-understand educational content about dementia can be beneficial.

This comparative report on dementia-friendly communities has been produced as part of the 2015 Work Plan of Alzheimer Europe, which has received funding from the European Union in the framework of the Health Programme. Decisions about the broad areas to be addressed were informed by a literature review on the topic. Agreement on the specific sections to be included for each area was reached at a meeting with 15 Alzheimer Europe (AE) member associations at the beginning of 2015. Based on this, a questionnaire was drafted and later reviewed by four members of the group. The questionnaire was also presented to the Executive of the European Working Group of People with Dementia (EWGPWD) and their comments and suggestions were incorporated into the questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent out to all AE members. In addition, in countries where AE has no member (i.e. Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania), relevant informants were identified and invited to participate. 33 organisations representing 31 countries returned the questionnaires. Questionnaires were completed by the national organisation and, whenever necessary, with the aid of relevant national experts in the field of social policy, law and social support. Organisations were contacted again when necessary to clarify certain issues and information was transferred into a database and analysed. The final report was sent to all participating organisations for final approval prior to publication. In addition to this, members of the EWGPWD were invited to share their experiences with and views on each of the topics addressed in the report by providing a short written testimonial ("personal accounts"). These personal accounts provide a powerful insight into how people with dementia would like to see communities, villages, cities and countries become more dementia inclusive and dementia friendly. Personal experiences provided by members of the EWGPWD are presented at the end of each section. ; peer-reviewed