Potential prevention of Alzheimer disease and dementia

The prevention of dementia is of critical importance. The increasing population of high-risk older individuals will result in an increasing prevalence of dementia. Primary prevention of dementia and Alzheimer disease can take either a public health or high-risk preventive medicine approach. At the present time, there is little evidence to support a specific primary public health approach such as a specific nutrient. The possible association of vascular disease with dementia may offer the best preventive high-risk approach. The identification of individuals with clinical and subclinical vascular disease is possible. There is a very high prevalence of subclinical cerebral infarction in older individuals. Specific treatments can prevent clinical disease such as stroke and coronary heart disease. Whether therapies will prevent some dementia can be determined.