Summary
This systematic review examined the best 32 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating treatments for cognitive decline, including drug treatments, hormone therapies, nutritional supplements, physical activity and cognitive exercises. The authors looked comprehensively at pharmacological treatments and non-pharmacological treatments in healthy adults.
There was no firm evidence that pharmacological treatments – such as cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonists or vitamin pills – are of any benefit for preventing cognitive decline. Oestrogen therapies may actually cause a decline in memory. Contrary to other research reported on this website, there was only inconsistent evidence concerning the benefits of physical activity for preventing cognitive decline. The authors discovered some evidence (from only three studies) that brain training exercises might help prevent cognitive decline; as measured in terms of auditory memory (for spoken information) and attention.
The authors conclude that most treatments and approaches for preventing cognitive decline do not appear to work (or may occasionally be harmful), and that even the benefits of cognitive training remain uncertain. The studies examined so far have been variable in quality, so further high-quality research is needed. Back to square one?
Reference
Benefits of brain training for dementia uncertain. London: NHS Choices; Behind the Headlines, April 17th 2013.
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Reference
Naqvi, R. Liberman, D. [and] Rosenberg, J. (2013). Preventing cognitive decline in healthy older adults. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, April 15th 2013, [Epub ahead of print]. (Click here to view the PubMed record).
[A brief reference to this item features in Dementia and Elderly Care: the Latest Evidence Newsletter (RWNHST), Volume 3 Issue 7, May 2013].
