Structured Abstract

Contents

• Preface
• Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion and Conclusions
• 1. Introduction
  • Scope of the Problem
  • Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline
  • Purpose of this Evidence Report
  • Role of the Technical Expert Panel
  • Organization of this Report
• 2. Methods
  • Introduction
  • Key Questions
  • Analytic Framework
  • Literature Review Methods
  • Peer Review Process
• 3. Results
  • Literature Search Results
  • Measurement of Cognitive Outcomes
  • Key Question 1 – Factors Associated with Reduction of Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Key Question 2 – Factors Associated with Reduction of Risk of Cognitive Decline
  • Key Question 3 – Interventions to Delay the Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Key Question 4 – Interventions to Improve or Maintain Cognitive Ability or Function
  • Key Question 5 – Relationships Between Factors Affecting Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline
  • Key Question 6 – Future Research Needs
• 4. Discussion
• 5. Conclusions
• References
• Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A Exact Search Strings
  • Appendix B Evidence Tables
  • Appendix C Quality Assessment – Systematic Reviews
  • Appendix D Quality Assessment – RCTs
  • Appendix E Quality Assessment – Observational Studies
  • Appendix F Peer Reviewers
  • Appendix G Excluded Studies

Acknowledgments: The authors thank the following individuals: for help with literature search and retrieval, Connie Schardt; for statistical support, Victor Hasselblad, Ph.D.; for assistance in the preparation of evidence tables, Remy Coeytaux, M.D., Ph.D.; Jennifer McDuffie, Ph.D.; Ravi Dhurjati, D.Phil.; Carolina Aponte Urdaneta, M.D.; and Katie Dore, P.A-C.; for project management, Julian Irvine, M.C.M.; for editorial assistance, Rebecca Gray, D.Phil.; and for research assistance, Alice Thacher and Vincent Miller.

Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.¹ Contract No. HHSA 290-2007-10066-I. Prepared by: Duke Evidence-based Practice Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Suggested citation:

Williams JW, Plassman BL, Burke J, Holsinger T, Benjamin S. Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 193. (Prepared by the Duke Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. HHSA 290-2007-10066-I.) AHRQ Publication No. 10-E005. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. April 2010.

This report is based on research conducted by the Duke Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. HHSA 290-2007-10066-I). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the author(s), who are responsible for its contents, and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The information in this report is intended to help clinicians, employers, policymakers, and others make informed decisions about the provision of health care services. This report is intended as a reference and not as a substitute for clinical judgment.

This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied.

No investigators have any affiliations or financial involvement (e.g., employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties) that conflict with material presented in this report.

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