Preventing and Treating Dementia

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), a collection of neurodegenerative conditions, take a heavy physical, emotional, and financial toll on individuals, families, and communities. Developing effective strategies for preventing and treating these conditions, which impact millions of people in the United States, is one of the most pressing needs in biomedical research today. The National Institutes of Health has invested billions of dollars in this research, which has led to numerous scientific advances over the last decade. However, the pace of progress has not kept up with the growing needs of people living with AD/ADRD and those at risk.

Consequently, the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke asked the National Academies to convene an expert committee to examine and assess the current state of biomedical research and recommend research priorities to advance the prevention and treatment of AD/ADRD. Preventing and Treating Dementia outlines these research priorities and recommends strategies to overcome barriers to progress.

Table of Contents

Front Matter Prologue Abstract Summary

1 Introduction 2 Research Enabling the Longitudinal Evaluation of Brain Health and the Detection, Diagnosis, and Monitoring of AD/ADRD 3 Understanding Disease Pathways to Guide Effective Strategies for Precision AD/ADRD Prevention and Treatment 4 Development and Evaluation of Interventions for the Prevention and Treatment of AD/ADRD 5 Advancing Research Priorities for Preventing and Treating Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Appendix A: Scoping Review Methods Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff Appendix C: Disclosure of Unavoidable Conflicts of Interest Appendix D: Public Meeting Agendas