State of science in nutrition clinical trials for dementia prevention

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThere is a number of clinical trials of nutrition interventions in relation to prevention of dementia and cognitive decline that have been done. Nevertheless, not only the overall number of such attempted interventional studies is relatively small, but there is also considerable variability in terms not only of results but also of related methodological approaches.MethodWe will review experience of various methodological aspects of performed high quality nutrition and multidomain clinical trials for prevention of dementia and cognitive decline.ResultPerformed trials have demonstrated considerable variability not only in terms of findings but also in terms many different aspects of methodological design including intensity of intervention, success of adherence to the intervention, degree of appropriateness of primary and secondary outcomes selected, duration of the study etc. Prudent participant selection both in terms of baseline cognitive and nutritional status but also in terms of representativeness and disparity dimensions has also been a major issue in most completed trials. All the above and additional methodological strengths and challenges have been also quite prominent in nutritional supplement trials.ConclusionExperience of shortcomings and lessons learned from up‐to‐date conduct of nutrition trials point to areas of specific methodological improvements that we need to consider in the future.