Towards effective interventions: scoping review on prevention and modifiable risk factors of neurodegenerative diseases.

BACKGROUND

Life expectancy is increasing with help of modern medicine, but well-being is not always guaranteed for elderly, especially when affected by diseases that hinder autonomy and to which there is still no cure. Amongst late-life related diseases are those affecting cognition, such as dementias and Alzheimer's Disease, which occurrence has been reported as one of the top Global Burden of Disease with prospective exponential growth for the next 30 years. Other reasons for dependency of elderly are health conditions affecting movement. Some of these are associated with neurodegenerative diseases (NDD), such as Parkinson's Disease, whose rise in prevalence is equally concerning and attending a pandemic status.

METHODS

This scoping review is based on selected systematic reviews of interventions for the prevention or risk reduction of NDD. It summarizes existing studies, their efficacy and limitations, the coverage of topics and diseases to which scientific evidence of protective effect has become available in the last decade.

RESULTS

75 systematic reviews were included, from which 75% were dedicated to risks associated with cognitive disorders. Movement disorders are facing scarcity of studies on prevention cues. Although growing in number, studies remain cautious in concluding preventive efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Nevertheless, our synthesis reveals strong evidence supporting the protective role of several non-genetic factors in delaying NDD onset. This review provides a practical resource for clinicians and policymakers in developing integrated, community-level prevention strategies. Findings suggest that interdisciplinary, multifactorial approaches may offer the greatest potential for reducing the burden of neurodegenerative diseases.