Publications by authors named "Kay Deckers"
Background: Hearing loss (HL) and visual loss (VL) are recently identified as promising dementia risk factors, but long-term studies with adequate control of other modifiable dementia risk factors are lacking. This 25-year follow-up study investigated the association between objectively measured HL and VL with cognitive decline and incident dementia.
Methods: 1823 participants (age 24-82 years) of the Maastricht Aging Study were assessed at baseline, 6, 12 and 25 years.
Background: The "LIfestyle for BRAin health" (LIBRA) index was recently updated with three new modifiable factors: hearing impairment, social contact, and sleep (LIBRA2), but has not yet been validated.
Objective: Comparison of the performance of both LIBRA versions in predicting dementia risk.
Methods: Longitudinal data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and the Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS) were used.
Background: Different aspects of social relationships (e.g., social network size or loneliness) have been associated with dementia risk, while their overlap and potentially underlying pathways remain largely unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Blood-derived DNA methylation shows potential for early detection of dementia risk, linking biological factors with lifestyle and environmental influences.
- A multivariate methylation risk score (MMRS) was developed, predicting mild cognitive impairment independently of age and sex, alongside significant future risk of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
- The study highlights the integration of machine learning and omics data to enhance dementia risk prediction at the population level.
Objectives: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with adverse health outcomes, especially within the older adult population, underlining the need for effective interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarize all available evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions for loneliness and social isolation, to map out their working mechanisms, and to give implications for policy and practice.
Design: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
Background: Evidence on the effectiveness of multidomain lifestyle interventions to prevent cognitive decline in older people without dementia is mixed. Embedded in the World-Wide FINGERS initiative, FINGER-NL aims to investigate the effectiveness of a 2-year multidomain lifestyle intervention on cognitive functioning in older Dutch at risk individuals.
Methods: Multi-center, randomized, controlled, multidomain lifestyle intervention trial with a duration of 24 months.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess the feasibility of integrating dementia risk reduction strategies into standard primary care consultations, with the added support of a smartphone app called 'MyBraincoach.'
- A total of 188 participants aged 40-60, who have modifiable dementia risk factors, were involved in a trial that compared standard consultations with those that also included app usage; both methods showed positive feedback and improved knowledge about risk reduction.
- The results indicated that while both groups improved in their LIBRA scores and health habits, the app group experienced a greater increase in knowledge; further research is needed to determine the overall effectiveness and cost-efficiency of this approach in larger populations.
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Alzheimers Dement
June 2024
Introduction: The LIfestyle for BRAin Health (LIBRA) index yields a dementia risk score based on modifiable lifestyle factors and is validated in Western samples. We investigated whether the association between LIBRA scores and incident dementia is moderated by geographical location or sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods: We combined data from 21 prospective cohorts across six continents (N = 31,680) and conducted cohort-specific Cox proportional hazard regression analyses in a two-step individual participant data meta-analysis.
Introduction: Hearing loss (HL) has been associated with cognitive decline and dementia. We examined the temporal association between prevalent and incident HL and cognitive change.
Methods: A total of 1823 participants (24-82 years) from the Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 years, including pure-tone audiometry.
Objective: To evaluate whether psychological and social factors complement biomedical factors in understanding post-COVID-19 fatigue and cognitive complaints. Additionally, to incorporate objective (neuro-cognitive) and subjective (patient-reported) variables in identifying factors related to post-COVID-19 fatigue and cognitive complaints.
Design: Prospective, multicenter cohort study.
Objective: It is estimated that about 40% of all dementia cases are potentially attributable to modifiable risk factors, but awareness of this is relatively lacking.
Methods: An 18-months nation-wide public awareness campaign on dementia risk reduction was rolled out in Denmark that combined a mass-media approach with an online risk assessment tool and knowledge bank targeting all inhabitants aged between 40 and 75 years. Campaign effects (increase in awareness and knowledge of modifiable dementia risk and protective factors) were assessed via online surveys in two independent random samples before (n = 1003) and after the campaign (n = 1076).
Article Synopsis
- A study looked into factors that can help reduce the risk of dementia and checked if the "LIBRA" score needs updating!
- After reviewing many research studies and getting input from experts, they found six important factors, but highlighted three: hearing problems, social contact, and sleep!
- The study suggests that it's important to keep updating the ways we measure dementia risk, and future work will check how well the new LIBRA score works!
Article Synopsis
- High cognitive activity may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, as suggested by the study.
- The research examined the relationship between an individual's need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities (NFC) and brain health among 4209 participants, revealing that those with higher NFC scores had better cognitive functioning and lower odds of cognitive impairment and small vessel disease.
- The findings indicate that having a strong motivation for cognitive engagement can positively impact cognitive abilities, especially in middle-aged individuals, though no significant links were found between NFC and certain brain structure measures.
Article Synopsis
- Sleep disturbances are linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia, but previous studies lacked long-term follow-up and thorough assessments.
- The Maastricht Aging Study investigated the relationship between self-reported sleep quality and cognitive decline over 12 years in a diverse sample of 1,823 cognitively healthy participants aged 24 to 82.
- Findings revealed that poorer sleep quality was related to a faster decline in processing speed and, for those over 65, also in verbal memory, indicating that self-reported sleep issues can significantly impact cognitive health over time.
Background: Evidence on modifiable risk factors for dementia is accumulating rapidly, including e.g. smoking, hypertension, and diabetes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study investigated whether the association between modifiable dementia risk and rate of cognitive decline differs across socioeconomic status (SES) strata.
Design, Setting And Participants: Data were used from Maastricht Aging Study, a prospective cohort study with a 12-year follow-up. The baseline sample consisted of 1023 adults over 40 years old.
Background: Individuals with depression have an increased dementia risk, which might be due to modifiable risk factors for dementia. This study investigated the extent to which the increased risk for dementia in depression is explained by modifiable dementia risk factors.
Methods: We used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2008-2009 to 2018-2019), a prospective cohort study.
Introduction: It is unknown how the impact of COVID-19 restrictions has affected brain healthy behaviors that contribute to dementia risk reduction in older adults. Our aim was to explore perspectives of older adults on lifestyle behaviors that support positive brain health and dementia risk reduction during and following COVID-19 restrictions.
Methods: Community-dwelling older Australians ( = 159) during June to October 2021 (the second wave of COVID-19 restrictions) who had taken part in a pre-post dementia risk reduction intervention program were invited to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their lifestyle behaviors.
Social health factors (e.g., social activities or social support) and cognitive activity engagement have been associated with dementia risk, but their neural substrates have not been well established.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Health- and lifestyle factors account for a substantial part of all dementia cases, which opens the opportunity for primary prevention. However, the required behavioral change is complex and involves targeting multiple risk factors. mHealth interventions can potentially contribute to improving motivation in a low-cost and scalable way.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Little is known about what drives older adults' motivation to change their behaviour and whether that is associated with their personal dementia risk profile. Our aims were to (i) understand what sociodemographic factors are associated with older Australians' motivation to change behaviour to reduce their dementia risk, and (ii) explore the relationship between socio-demographic factors and motivation to reduce dementia risk with health- and lifestyle-based dementia risk scores in older adults.
Methods: A cross-sectional online postal or telephone survey was administered to community-dwelling older adults in New South Wales, Australia between January and March 2021.
Introduction: Behaviour change interventions represent key means for supporting healthy ageing and reducing dementia risk yet brief, scalable behaviour change interventions targeting dementia risk reduction in older adults is currently lacking. Here we describe the aims and design of the three-month Brain Bootcamp initiative that seeks to target multiple dementia risk and protective factors (healthy eating, physical, social and cognitive inactivity), through the use of multiple behaviour change techniques, including goal-setting for behaviour, information about health consequences and physical prompts to change behaviours that reduce dementia risk among older adults. Our secondary aim is to understand participants' views of dementia prevention and explore the acceptability and integration of this campaign into daily life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Several modifiable lifestyle risk factors for dementia have been identified, but it is unclear how much the Norwegian public knows about the relationship between lifestyle and brain health. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate knowledge about modifiable dementia risk and protective factors and beliefs and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction in a randomly selected subsample of the Norwegian population.
Methods: The total sample (n = 1435) included individuals aged 40-70 years from four counties (Oslo, Innlandet, Nordland and Trøndelag) in Norway.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted lifestyle and mental health in older adults, potentially increasing the risk of cognitive decline due to changes in modifiable factors related to brain health.
- A survey conducted in early 2021 with nearly 4,000 older adults revealed that 74% reported negative changes like increased loneliness and sleep issues, while 60% experienced positive changes such as improved diet and physical activity.
- Key demographic factors influencing these changes included age, gender, living situation, satisfaction with income, and subjective memory complaints, indicating that younger and female individuals living alone in urban areas were more susceptible to negative lifestyle changes.