Older people's knowledge and practice about lifestyle behaviors that may prevent vascular dementia

The motivation and actions of Australians concerning brain health and dementia risk reduction

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Alzheimer's disease and dementia are recognised as critical public health priorities. This study investigated intentions and behaviours concerning brain health and dementia risk reduction among Australians.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 1000 persons aged 20-75 years measured knowledge, beliefs, intentions and behaviours concerning brain health and dementia. The demographic, experiential and cognitive factors associated with intentions and actions were examined.

RESULTS

Around half of respondents were motivated to improve brain health. Behaviours most often reported were mental activity (19%), physical activity (9.6%) and dietary action (6.5%). Actions were most likely among women (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.19-2.14), those aged 60 years and over (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.01-2.58), with university education (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.08-2.58) or with prior contact with a person with dementia (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.12-3.56). Both intentions and actions were associated with moderate to high knowledge, and beliefs and confidence that favoured dementia risk reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

A lower proportion of Australians reported taking action to improve brain health than who expressed intentions in this regard. Strategies are needed to improve knowledge about the range of behaviours that contribute to dementia risk reduction and to increase confidence that this outcome is personally achievable. SO WHAT? The burden of disease due to Alzheimer's disease and dementia is growing dramatically. It is essential to promote awareness that dementia is not an inevitable result of ageing and to increase understanding that action can be taken throughout the life course to promote brain health.

The effects of health education on knowledge about Alzheimer's disease and health-promoting behaviours of older Chinese adults in a nursing home: A pilot study

This pilot study tested the effects of health education on knowledge of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and health-promotion lifestyles among older Chinese adults residing in a nursing home in Wuhan. A convenience sample of 35 elders without AD was recruited from a nursing home in Wuhan and provided with a 5 week health education intervention. Participants had little knowledge about AD and had an intermediate level of health promotion. After receiving the intervention, there were significant increases in scores on AD knowledge (F = 29.69, df = 1.23, P < 0.01) and health-promotion lifestyle (F = 4.39, df = 2, P < 0.05). These results suggest that the intervention on AD knowledge and health promotion was effective for elders in this study. Nurses should therefore provide education for elders in nursing homes to improve their AD knowledge and health-promotion lifestyles, and to prevent or ameliorate AD.

Cognitive rehabilitation in the elderly: an evaluation of psychosocial factors

In this study, we report changes in psychosocial function in two groups of older adults that participated in the experimental trial of our cognitive rehabilitation program. The results, based on tests that measured a range of psychosocial attributes, showed that, following training, participants improved in terms of overall well-being, as well as in specific areas that included perceived happiness, coping strategies, and quality of life. An important finding was that improvements were also observed in long-term follow-up testing. Both groups benefited from training, but the effect was greater in the group that received training before undergoing a control procedure. The results, which show that the benefits of our rehabilitation program extend into the psychosocial domain, underscore the potentially important relationship between psychosocial factors and cognitive performance in older adults.

Knowledge and lifestyle behaviors of healthy older adults related to modifying the onset of vascular dementia

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between knowledge and practice of lifestyle behaviors in healthy older adults related to the prevention of vascular dementia. Data were derived from a convenience sample of 281 Canadian participants 55 years of age and older. Lifestyle was measured using the health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP). Seven knowledge sub-scales were developed consistent to the HPLP. Multivariate analysis found that four independent variables accounted for 26% of the variance of a healthy lifestyle score and included those who reported a lower level of stress, indicated a higher knowledge of interpersonal relations, had a better general health self-assessment and higher medical knowledge. These Canadian results were compared with those from a study conducted in Australia and found to be similar. The study argues that health professionals and health education programs can better promote and increase awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviors by assisting older adults to apply this knowledge in their daily lives. Specifically, the study discusses policy and practice implications with regards to lifestyle issues relating to health responsibility, physical activity, spirituality, stress management, interpersonal relationships and nutrition.