Brain health services: individual dementia risk profiling at the Cologne Alzheimer Prevention Center

Abstract

According to current knowledge approximately 30-40% of all cases of dementia can be attributed to modifiable risk factors. As aresult, dementia prevention and the concept of brain health are becoming increasingly relevant. The requirements for brain health services and their implementation are discussed and the Cologne Alzheimer Prevention Center (KAP) of the University Hospital Cologne is described as an example. In addition to areport on international brain health initiatives, the main activities of the KAP are presented. Aprogram for individual risk profiling and risk communication is provided, which was piloted in the KAP in the context of the "Individual risk profiling for Alzheimer's disease and dementia prevention (INSPIRATION)" study. The prevalence of risk factors in acognitively healthy sample aged 50-86 years (n = 162) with interest in dementia prevention is presented. The most common risk factors were non-Mediterranean diet, obesity, subjective poor sleep quality and increased stress. Based on these results, preventive interventions can be developed that are adapted to the individual risk profile as apersonalized medicine approach. Structures such as the KAP can provide individual risk factor assessment and personalized dementia prevention. The efficacy of this approach on dementia risk reduction needs to be evaluated.