Population Screening Act: study of online lifestyle advice for reducing the risk of dementia

The University Medical Centre in Groningen (UMCG) would like to investigate strategies for offering online lifestyle advice that focuses on reducing the risk of dementia (the DEMIN study). The Committee considers  that the expected scientific usefulness of the DEMIN study is relatively limited and that there is no direct evidence for the possibility of preventing dementia through an improved lifestyle. However, some effect on the risk of dementia is to be anticipated and the lifestyle intervention can be beneficial to the health of the participants. The Committee therefore advises the State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to grant the permit, under the key conditions that the applicant modifies all the information about the study in such a way that the pros and cons of participation are fully covered and that no cognition tests are carried out.