Lifestyle and Alzheimer’s Disease: Lifestyle and Cognitive Stimulation

Call for Papers

Clinically, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a constellation of gradual decline in memory, other cognitive functions, behaviors, and activities of daily living leading to total dependency. Pathologically, AD is a heterogeneous, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloidbeta (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal loss. Without AD and other age-related chronic medical conditions, many older persons would remain relatively functional and contributing to society until late in life. Therefore, identifying mechanisms to ward off structural and functional declines associated with the disease is an important public health goal. Unfortunately, reducing AD rates cannot be realized without an effective prevention strategy. While medical treatments after disease onset may reduce disease progression and mortality, they may increase disease prevalence and substantially increase total disease burden in the population.

Cross-sectional, longitudinal, randomized studies summarized in meta-analyses have demonstrated that improvements in cardiovascular fitness may improve cognitive function in humans. Yet, the conclusions of the 2010 National Institute on Aging (NIA) consensus meeting on the role of fitness on memory were tentative at best. Despite this, it remains possible that exercise interventions directed at the preservation of neurocognitive function among those showing the earliest signs and symptoms of AD may ameliorate the physical, emotional, and economic burden associated with the disease.

To continue the discussion and enhance cross-pollination among scientists, investigators are invited to contribute original research as well as review articles on the role of lifestyle factors in AD development. In particular, we are interested in articles addressing the contributions of physical activity and/or aerobic exercise, cognitive stimulation, and diet to AD development. Articles addressing potential interactions among these risk factors and/or with genetics, and their mechanisms by which fitness adaption affects memory are encouraged. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Evidence for and against the advantageous effects of cardiovascular fitness adaptation on memory
• Recent developments on the effects of diet on memory
• Evidence for and against cognitive stimulation to alter the trajectory of AD
• Recent advances on the independent and additive effects of lifestyle and genetics on memory
• Novel mechanisms by which lifestyle factors may alter AD risk

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/jar/alzh/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Thomas O. Obisesan, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA

Guest Editors

• Laura D. Baker, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology, Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, USA
• Richard F. Gillum, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Howard University Hospital, Howard University College of Medicine, Clinical Research Unit 4-W103A, Washington, DC 20060, USA
• Michelle M. Mielke, Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA