Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology and MHeNS School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
PLoS One. 2022 Nov 7;17(11):e0277037. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277037. eCollection 2022.
Evidence on potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia is accumulating rapidly, including e.g. physical inactivity, hypertension, or diabetes. It is unclear to what extent these risk factors are known among the general population in Germany. We investigated knowledge on risk and protective factors for dementia and openness to eHealth interventions for brain health in the older general population in Germany.
A population-based telephone survey among randomly selected community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 60 years was conducted. We assessed sociodemographic factors, knowledge on risk and protective factors for dementia, openness towards eHealth and psychosocial outcomes (health literacy, resilience). Factors associated with interest in information on brain health and openness towards eHealth interventions were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.
Of n = 500 respondents (mean age: 74.8 years, % female: 62.8), 67.9% believed that dementia risk is modifiable. Participants mostly endorsed physical and cognitive activity as protective factors and social isolation as a risk factor. Knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors was low to moderate. 38.0% were interested in information on dementia risk reduction. Better knowledge of risk factors for dementia and higher age were linked to interest in information on brain health. Being widowed and higher levels of health literacy were associated with lower interest in information. Openness to eHealth interventions was moderate (46.2%). Younger age, better knowledge of risk and protective factors were linked to openness towards eHealth tools, as was knowing someone with dementia and interest in information on brain health.
Belief in preventability of dementia was higher in our sample than previously reported. However, knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors for disease was insufficient and more information and intervention approaches targeted at older adults are needed. Interest in information on dementia risk reduction and eHealth approaches was moderate, and further studies are warranted to assess needs and concerns of older adults regarding dementia prevention.
越来越多的证据表明，痴呆症的潜在可改变风险因素包括身体活动不足、高血压或糖尿病等。目前尚不清楚这些风险因素在德国普通人群中被认知的程度。我们调查了德国老年人群对痴呆症风险和保护因素的认知程度，以及对大脑健康的电子健康干预措施的开放性。
我们对随机选择的年龄在 60 岁以上的社区居住成年人进行了一项基于人口的电话调查。我们评估了社会人口因素、对痴呆症风险和保护因素的认知、对电子健康的开放性以及心理社会结局（健康素养、韧性）。使用多变量逻辑回归评估与对大脑健康信息的兴趣和对电子健康干预措施的开放性相关的因素。
在 n = 500 名受访者（平均年龄：74.8 岁，女性比例：62.8%）中，67.9%的人认为痴呆症风险是可以改变的。参与者大多认为身体和认知活动是保护因素，社会隔离是风险因素。对心血管危险因素的了解程度较低到中等。38.0%对减少痴呆症风险的信息感兴趣。对痴呆症风险因素的了解程度较高和年龄较大与对大脑健康信息的兴趣有关。丧偶和较高的健康素养水平与对信息的兴趣较低有关。对电子健康干预措施的开放性为中等（46.2%）。年龄较小、对风险和保护因素的了解程度较高与对电子健康工具的开放性有关，认识患有痴呆症的人以及对大脑健康信息的兴趣也是如此。
与以前的报告相比，我们的样本中对痴呆症可预防的信念更高。然而，对疾病的心血管危险因素的了解不足，需要更多针对老年人的信息和干预措施。对减少痴呆症风险的信息和电子健康方法的兴趣是中等的，需要进一步的研究来评估老年人对痴呆症预防的需求和关注。
