The ancient saying of Hippocrates, “Prevention is better than cure,” remains highly relevant, emphasizing the importance of prevention, which is categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Prevention forms the cornerstone of every health system, with its first major success in primary prevention being the implementation of vaccination (variolation) against smallpox, a disease that claimed the lives of 60 million people in Europe.
Primary prevention safeguards against infectious diseases through vaccinations, which are among the most significant achievements of medical science.
Secondary prevention focuses on early diagnosis for timely and appropriate treatment before symptoms appear, improving outcomes. Preventive screenings include mammography for breast cancer detection, Pap smears for cervical cancer, colonoscopy for colorectal cancer, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing for prostate cancer, and osteoporosis screening through bone density measurement.
Tertiary prevention aims to mitigate symptoms and reduce complications of a condition, thereby improving patients’ quality of life and increasing life expectancy.
The World Health Organization (WHO) implements primary healthcare (PHC) programs and health education initiatives, leveraging all available means to inform and raise public awareness of the benefits of preventive medicine.
To prevent and address cognitive disorders in normal aging individuals, those with Subjective Cognitive Impairment, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and dementia, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical approaches have been proposed. These include cognitive and neurophysiological interventions, dietary supplements, electrical stimulation, psychosocial therapy, and combined strategies.
- Cognitive enhancement through physical exercise involves exercise and dietary interventions that provide cognitive and perceptual protection for individuals with MCI, improving their quality of life, functionality, and independence.
- Cognitive enhancement through learning a second language involves functional connectivity in resting-state networks of language and control after second-language training programs and is associated with expanded knowledge in elderly individuals.
- Cognitive enhancement in individuals with MCI refers to cognitive-perceptual interventions that improve overall cognitive functioning and strengthen specific cognitive domains.
- Cognitive enhancement using magnetic and electrical fields involves transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance the long-term excitability of key brain regions, contributing to related cognitive processes.
- Cognitive enhancement through digital tools includes programs conducted via computers, tablets, or smartphones, offering significant advantages, particularly for isolated patients who prefer staying at home while keeping their minds sharp.
In conclusion, advancements in biomarkers allow for the early diagnosis of these conditions, enabling the personalization of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Such measures can become part of cognitive rehabilitation programs or complement pharmaceutical therapies in the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases, such as MCI—a precursor to dementia. Individuals with MCI remain functional but struggle to recall recent information, though this does not necessarily mean they will progress to dementia.
Konstantinos Kouskoukis
Professor of Dermatology – Lawyer
B’ Vice President GDHI
President Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine
President World Academy of Chinese & Complimentary Medicine