# General practitioners’ perspectives on lifestyle interventions for cognitive preservation in dementia prevention

## TL;DR

This study explores how general practitioners view lifestyle changes in preventing cognitive decline and dementia, finding that they generally believe these changes can be effective.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into GPs' perceptions of lifestyle interventions for cognitive preservation and identifies a correlation between GP age and beliefs about nutrition.

## Key findings

- GPs rated the efficacy of physical and social activity highest for maintaining cognitive performance.
- Older GPs showed stronger belief in the role of nutrition for preventing cognitive decline.
- Overall, GPs viewed lifestyle changes as moderately effective for cognitive preservation.

## Abstract

General practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in identifying cognitive impairment and dementia and providing post-diagnostic care. This study investigates (1) how promising GP consider lifestyle changes to maintain cognitive performance in general, (2) GP beliefs about the power of modifiable health and lifestyle factors to maintain cognitive performance, and (3) whether those beliefs vary by GP age.

As part of the AgeWell.de trial, GPs (n = 72) completed a process evaluation questionnaire assessing their perspectives on lifestyle changes to preserve cognitive performance in elderly patients. In greater detail, their perceived efficacy of established risk and protective factors was investigated using a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed for research question (1) and (2). Spearman´s rank correlations and ordinal logistic regressions were used to answer research question (3). All results were interpreted exploratively.

GPs rated the overall chance of lifestyle changes maintaining cognitive performance quite neutral with a median score of 3.0 (IQR = 2.0). They rated the efficacy of all the modifiable health and lifestyle factors high, with increase in physical and social activity ((Mdn = 5.0, IQR = 1.0) receiving the highest ratings with the narrowest range. Spearman's rank correlation indicated a significant positive relationship between age and the belief in “Optimization of nutrition” for preventing cognitive decline and dementia (ρ = .255, p = .041). However, ordinal logistic regressions showed no significant relationships between age and GP ratings of lifestyle change efficacy.

These findings highlight the positive perception of GPs on the efficacy of modifiable health and lifestyle factors for preventing cognitive decline and dementia.

The AgeWell.de trial is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; trial identifier: DRKS00013555, Registration Date 07 December 2017).

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12875-024-02566-3.