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Alzheimer’s disease risk reduction in clinical practice: a priority in the emerging field of preventive neurology

Nature Mental Health volume 2, pages 25–40 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is increasing in prevalence disproportionately to longevity, placing enormous burden on individuals, families, healthcare systems and the economy. Pathological brain changes may occur decades before the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease manifest. With new tools designed to identify at-risk individuals (for example, blood-based biomarkers and polygenic risk assessments), a focus on prevention could begin early and continue throughout life. Targetable risk factors associated mainly with cardiovascular and metabolic health have been established, while mental health factors are increasingly recognized. Given the heterogeneity of the risk and pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, interventions for risk reduction are most effectively determined on an individualized basis. Here we review the evidence for a precision medicine approach to Alzheimer’s disease risk reduction that involves multidisciplinary expertise, with a new emphasis on novel genetic and biomarker advances, and psychological factors. We propose integration of this approach into routine clinical practice and acknowledge obstacles to the widespread practice of preventive neurology.

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Fig. 1: The clinical stages of AD.
Fig. 2: The domains considered in personalized AD risk reduction management.

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Acknowledgements

R.S.I. has received research funding from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH 4R44AG071416-02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases Florida, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Kellyann Niotis & Richard S. Isaacson

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Corey Saperia

  3. SUNY Upstate Medical University, College of Medicine, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Nabeel Saif

  4. Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA

    Caroline Carlton

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K.N., C.S. and R.S.I. contributed equally to the design and oversight of the manuscript. All authors contributed equally to the writing and editing, and reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Richard S. Isaacson.

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R.I. and K.N. are scientific advisors to Retain Health. All other authors declare no competing interests.

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Application of our individualized approach to AD risk reduction management in clinical practice.

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Niotis, K., Saperia, C., Saif, N. et al. Alzheimer’s disease risk reduction in clinical practice: a priority in the emerging field of preventive neurology. Nat. Mental Health 2, 25–40 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00191-0

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