A Review of Primary. Secondary, and Tertiary Prevention Strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

This paper explores the non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s, as well as the Alzheimer’s primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention strategies that can be implemented. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the most expensive chronic disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020). It has a detrimental physical, psychological, and financial impact on patients and caregivers (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020). People can reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by eating a healthy diet, using hearing aids for hearing loss, engaging in regular physical activity, spending time with other people, doing mentally stimulating activities, reducing alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco (Livingston et al., 2020). Early screening and diagnostic tools are important because they allow people living with Alzheimer’s to establish an effective care plan and to take advantage of treatments, which are most effective in the early stages of the disease (Guzman-Martinez et al., 2021). Some screening and diagnostic tools include biomarkers, scalable screening technologies, and cognitive assessments (Guzman-Martinez et al.,18 2021). Primary and secondary prevention strategies must address the needs of minority populations, who have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to the general population (Livingston et al., 2020). Federal public health initiatives, such as the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, the Dementia Prevention Action Plan, and the Behavioral Risk Surveillance System, play an important role in Alzheimer’s public health research, surveillance, and prevention strategies (Chong et al., 2021; Kelley et al., 2018).