New ways of promoting mental well-being and cognitive functions

Abstract

In Japan and Finland, mental health and memory problems related to aging and other causes have quickly become serious national issues demanding an effective response, especially in terms of prevention. In this publication, we introduce examples of new preventive approaches and tools not traditionally associated with dementia and depression, like art, culture and technology. We find that risk factors for dementia and depression vary with life style, and to address these factors, we need not only existing preventive services but also new ones.

At the end of this publication, we highlight two themes arising from these examples regarding the potential of new, preventive, functional improvement programs. The first is the variety, relevance and delivery of preventive services. To effectively reduce risk factors for dementia, depression and other conditions, services should address various aspects of life, increasing the chance that a client will find a way to constructively engage in preventive activities. Preventive services challenge is that only a few attend to them and thus they can only have a small epidemiological effect. For effective prevention, preventive services need to attract voluntary, regular and sustainable engagement.