Capsule:Hearing loss is associated with increased risk for dementia. Other data suggest that there may be a causal link between deafness and cognitive decline or perhaps that hearing loss may merely be an early symptom of neurodegenerative changes.
15:00-15:05
Introduction and Pre-Debate Voting
15:05-15:20
Yes: Sergi Costafreda, UK
15:20-15:35
No: Lev Kruglov, Russia
15:35-15:40
Rebuttals, Discussion and Post-Debate Voting
15:40-16:20
Does aerobic exercise protect cognition?
Capsule: Lifestyle changes have been suggested for dementia prevention. Physical activity engagement has repeatedly been associated with preserved cognition and lower risk for cognitive decline and dementia among older adults. Whether physical activity is neuroprotective by itself or whether it mitigates enhanced risk for dementia via other factors is less well understood. This debate will discuss whether physical activity protects cognitive function and whether we know enough about the phenomenon to design effective interventions.
15:40-15:45
Introduction and Pre-Debate Voting
15:45-16:00
Yes: Dag Aarsland, UK
16:00-16:15
No: Naji Tabet, UK
16:15-16:20
Rebuttals, Discussion and Post-Debate Voting
16:20-17:00
Is subjective cognitive impairment itself a prelude to dementia?
Capsule: In a chronic medical condition, early diagnosis becomes an issue when treatment is available that can alter its course.Regarding AD, there is hope that novel prevention strategies will have the capacity of slowing down the neurodegeneration. Suchtreatments may provide greatest benefit to patients at the stage of absent or minor cognitive impairment. This debate will focus on thecentral question, can (and should) AD be diagnosed in the stage of subjective cognitive deficits, when cognitive tests are still normal, although disease-modifying interventions are still unproven?
16:20-16:25
Introduction and Pre-Debate Voting
16:25-16:40
Yes: Babak Tousi, USA
16:40-16:55
No: Panteleimon Giannakopoulos, Switzerland
16:55-17:00
Rebuttals, Discussion and Post-Debate Voting
17:00-17:40
Is cognitive reserve just a buzzword lacking scientific value?
Capsule:The concept of reserve was established to account for the observation that a given degree of neurodegenerative pathology may result in varying degrees of symptoms in different individuals. There is a large amount of evidence on risk and protective factors for neurodegenerative diseases and dementia, yet the biological mechanisms that underpin the protective effects of certain lifestyle and physiological variables remain poorly understood, limiting the development of more effective strategies. This debate will focus on the important question, is reserve just another buzzword or is the phenomenon supported by convincing scientific evidence.
17:00-17:05
Introduction and Pre-Debate Voting
17:05-17:20
Yes:Panteleimon Giannakopoulos, Switzerland
17:20-17:35
No: Irena Rektorova, Czech Republic
17:35-17:40
Rebuttals, Discussion and Post-Debate Voting
17:40-18:20
Can stress cause dementia?
Capsule: In the last decades AD research has focused on possible preventable risk factors including mood and anxiety disorders Studies in animals have shown that chronic stress exacerbates the deposition of proteins involved in AD in particular tau pathology. In humans, psychological stress has been associated with higher risk of AD clinical syndrome. Stress can have a damaging effect on brain health. One of the possible therapeutic targets should be to mitigate the extensive negative effects of stress.
