7 results on '"Heger, Irene"'
Search Results
2. Associations of an individual's need for cognition with structural brain damage and cognitive functioning/impairment: cross-sectional population-based study.
- Author
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Truin, Lotte S., Köhler, Sebastian, Heger, Irene S., van Boxtel, Martin P. J., Schram, Miranda T., Backes, Walter H., Jansen, Jacobus F. A., van Dongen, Martien M. C. J. M., de Vries, Nanne K., de Vries, Hein, Eussen, Simone J. P. M., Stehouwer, Coen D. A., de Vugt, Marjolein E., and Deckers, Kay
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COGNITIVE ability ,BRAIN damage ,EXECUTIVE function ,CEREBRAL small vessel diseases ,COGNITIVE testing - Abstract
Background: High cognitive activity possibly reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Aims: To investigate associations between an individual's need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities (need for cognition, NFC) and structural brain damage and cognitive functioning in the Dutch general population with and without existing cognitive impairment. Method: Cross-sectional data were used from the population-based cohort of the Maastricht Study. NFC was measured using the Need For Cognition Scale. Cognitive functioning was tested in three domains: verbal memory, information processing speed, and executive functioning and attention. Values 1.5 s.d. below the mean were defined as cognitive impairment. Standardised volumes of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and presence of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) were derived from 3T magnetic resonance imaging. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression analyses were used adjusted for demographic, somatic and lifestyle factors. Results: Participants (n = 4209; mean age 59.06 years, s.d. = 8.58; 50.1% women) with higher NFC scores had higher overall cognition scores (B = 0.21, 95% CI 0.17–0.26, P < 0.001) and lower odds for CSVD (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.60–0.91, P = 0.005) and cognitive impairment (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.48–0.76, P < 0.001) after adjustment for demographic, somatic and lifestyle factors. The association between NFC score and cognitive functioning was similar for individuals with and without prevalent cognitive impairment. We found no significant association between NFC and WMH or CSF volumes. Conclusions: A high need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities is associated with better cognitive functioning and less presence of CSVD and cognitive impairment. This suggests that, in middle-aged individuals, motivation to engage in cognitively stimulating activities may be an opportunity to improve brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Socio-Cognitive Determinants of Lifestyle Behavior in the Context of Dementia Risk Reduction: A Population-Based Study in the Netherlands.
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Bruinsma, Jeroen, Loukas, Vasileios S., Kassiotis, Thomas, Heger, Irene, Rosenberg, Anna, Visser, Leonie N. C., Mangialasche, Francesca, Fotiadis, Dimitrios I., Hanke, Sten, and Crutzen, Rik
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UNHEALTHY lifestyles ,DISEASE risk factors ,DIETARY patterns ,HEALTH behavior ,CONTROL (Psychology) ,PERCEIVED control (Psychology) - Abstract
Background: Unhealthy behavior increases the risk of dementia. Various socio-cognitive determinants influence whether individuals persist in or alter these unhealthy behaviors. Objective: This study identifies relevant determinants of behavior associated to dementia risk. Methods: 4,104 Dutch individuals (40–79 years) completed a screening questionnaire exploring lifestyle behaviors associated with dementia risk. Subsequently, 3,065 respondents who engaged in one or more unhealthy behaviors completed a follow-up questionnaire investigating socio-cognitive determinants of these behaviors. Cross-tables were used to assess the accuracy of participants' perceptions regarding their behavior compared to recommendations. Confidence Interval-Based Estimation of Relevance (CIBER) was used to identify the most relevant determinants of behavior based on visual inspection and interpretation. Results: Among the respondents, 91.3% reported at least one, while 65% reported two or more unhealthy lifestyle behaviors associated to dementia risk. Many of them were not aware they did not adhere to lifestyle recommendations. The most relevant determinants identified include attitudes (i.e., lacking a passion for cooking and finding pleasure in drinking alcohol or smoking), misperceptions on social comparisons (i.e., overestimating healthy diet intake and underestimating alcohol intake), and low perceived behavioral control (i.e., regarding changing physical inactivity, altering diet patterns, and smoking cessation). Conclusions: Individual-level interventions that encourage lifestyle change should focus on enhancing accurate perceptions of behaviors compared to recommendations, while strengthening perceived control towards behavior change. Given the high prevalence of dementia risk factors, combining interventions at both individual and environmental levels are likely to be the most effective strategy to reduce dementia on a population scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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- View/download PDF
4. Public Perspectives on Lifestyle-Related Behavior Change for Dementia Risk Reduction: An Exploratory Qualitative Study in The Netherlands.
- Author
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Bruinsma, Jeroen, Heger, Irene, Loukas, Vasileios S., Kassiotis, Thomas, Karanasiou, Georgia, Fotiadis, Dimitrios I., Hanke, Sten, and Crutzen, Rik
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DISEASE risk factors , *UNHEALTHY lifestyles , *HEALTH behavior , *QUALITATIVE research , *ALZHEIMER'S disease - Abstract
Background: There is accumulating evidence that addressing modifiable risk and protective factors has an impact on dementia rates. Insight into the public's perspectives on dementia risk reduction is needed to inform future individual-level interventions and public health approaches. Objective: This study explores the publics' openness towards dementia risk reduction and willingness towards changing lifestyle behavior to reduce the future risk for dementia. Methods: Using a screening questionnaire, participants were purposively selected based on lifestyle behaviors that are associated with dementia risk. One-on-one interviews were used to explore their openness towards dementia risk reduction and willingness towards behavior change. Independently, two researchers performed an inductive content analysis. Results: Interviews were conducted with 23 participants aged from 40 to 79 years. Main themes that were identified from the data were: 1) abstractness of dementia risk reduction, 2) ambivalence towards changing behavior, 3) negative self-image and low behavioral control, and 4) all-or-nothing thinking about lifestyle change. Conclusions: The concept of dementia risk reduction seems difficult to translate to the personal context, particularly if individuals perceive that dementia would occur decades in the future. This is problematic because a large proportion of the public needs a healthier lifestyle to reduce the incidence of dementia. Translating healthy intentions into behavior is complex and involves overcoming a variety of barriers that complicate dementia risk reduction initiatives. Support is needed for individuals who experience additional obstacles that obstruct commencing to a healthier lifestyle (e.g., negative self-image, engaging in multiple unhealthy behaviors, unrealistic perceptions about lifestyle change). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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5. Dementia awareness and risk perception in middle-aged and older individuals: baseline results of the MijnBreincoach survey on the association between lifestyle and brain health
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Heger, Irene, Deckers, Kay, van Boxtel, Martin, de Vugt, Marjolein, Hajema, KlaasJan, Verhey, Frans, and Köhler, Sebastian
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- 2019
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6. Towards primary prevention of dementia
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Heger, Irene Sophia, Köhler, Sebastian, Verhey, Frans, van Boxtel, Martin, Psychiatrie & Neuropsychologie, and RS: MHeNs - R1 - Cognitive Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
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lifestyle ,prevention ,mobile app ,mental disorders ,Dementia - Abstract
This thesis focusses on prevention of dementia. In the first part of the thesis, it was investigated whether people who live healthy have less risk of developing dementia. A lifestyle-score was calculated for all participants, the LIBRA index. Those who scored unhealthier also performed worse on cognitive tasks and had more evidence of brain damage based on MRI scans. The focus of the second part of the thesis was the translation of this scientific evidence to the general public. To this end, people (40-75 years old) in the province of Limburg completed a survey, which demonstrated that more than half think that dementia cannot be prevented by living a healthy life. Following this, a 10-month awareness campaign was conducted in the province of Limburg (We Zijn Zelf Het Medicijn) and the MijnBreincoach app was developed. This app gives people insight into their personal room for improvement and supports people to make small steps towards a healthier lifestyle and healthier brains. People who had heard of the campaign or app were more aware of the relationship between lifestyle and dementia risk. Several national and international partners have adopted the format of the campaign and the MijnBreincoach app.
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- 2022
7. Increasing awareness for dementia risk reduction through a public awareness campaign in Denmark: A pre-post study.
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Paauw, Dominique, Heger, Irene, Bjerre, Jon Fiala, Ringgaard, Maria Fisker, Stensgård, Vita, Horstkötter, Dorothee, Köhler, Sebastian, and Deckers, Kay
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DISEASE risk factors , *RISK perception , *CARDIOVASCULAR diseases risk factors , *VASCULAR dementia , *AWARENESS - Abstract
It is estimated that about 40% of all dementia cases are potentially attributable to modifiable risk factors, but awareness of this is relatively lacking. An 18-months nation-wide public awareness campaign on dementia risk reduction was rolled out in Denmark that combined a mass-media approach with an online risk assessment tool and knowledge bank targeting all inhabitants aged between 40 and 75 years. Campaign effects (increase in awareness and knowledge of modifiable dementia risk and protective factors) were assessed via online surveys in two independent random samples before (n = 1003) and after the campaign (n = 1076). After adjusting for differences in educational level between the two samples, there was no significant difference in awareness of dementia risk reduction between the pre-campaign (66.5% aware) and post-campaign (63.4% aware) sample (probit z = −0.08, p = 0.151). The number of correctly identified risk/protective factors was significantly higher in the post-campaign sample. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, self-reported exposure to the campaign was associated with more awareness, better recognition of risk/protective factors, more motivation for and actual implementation of lifestyle changes. This mass-media campaign did not increase overall awareness that dementia risk is partly modifiable. However, exposure to the campaign was associated with more awareness and willingness to take action to improve brain health. Future campaigns should tailor messages to specific subgroups to broaden the reach (e.g., males), co-create materials with the target group, and give special attention to the contribution of metabolic/cardiovascular risk factors to dementia risk. • This study evaluated a public awareness campaign on dementia risk reduction. • Substantial gaps in knowledge of individual dementia risk factors were observed. • After a nation-wide public health campaign, awareness did not increase. • Post-campaign knowledge of individual dementia risk factors increased. • Exposure led to more awareness, increased knowledge and willingness to take action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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