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Preventing Memory Loss: Putting Prevention Into Action in Primary Care

Maria Teresa SILVA, Sheila Torquato HUMPHREYS and Miguel VIEIRA

Dementia remains a non-reversible syndrome, with a prevalence of 6–8% among individuals over 65 years in France, increasing exponentially with age. Memory loss is therefore a major concern among patients over 60. Primary care offers an ideal setting for early detection. The Coeur de Saintonge Health Care Center (CSHCC), a rural multidisciplinary facility with 42 professionals (general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, midwives, speech therapists, etc.), offers memory-loss screening to all patients over 60, and to younger adults reporting memory concerns. Between September 2024 and September 2025, 104 patients were screened; 68% had normal or sub-normal results (MMSE > 24). Despite reassuring results, many expressed anxiety about developing dementia and requested tools to maintain cognitive functioning.Using a multidisciplinary approach, the CSHCC created a therapeutic patient education (TPE) program for patients with normal or mildly sub-normal screening results. On a voluntary basis participants join small groups (max. 8 patients) and complete a 3-month series of themed workshops: * Physiological aging and development of cognitive skills (gerontological psychologist) * Cognitive rehabilitation (speech therapist) * Hearing-loss screening (hearing-aid specialist) * Technical aids (occupational therapist) * Physical activity (activity instructor) * Nutrition (dietician) * Social activity and community engagement (occupational therapist + local association)   Two cycles are offered annually. At year’s end, both groups participate in a joint session to discuss how they integrated the recommendations into daily life.While secondary care programs exist for moderate cognitive impairment, few comparable patient-education initiatives are available in French primary care. This program also strengthened patient engagement with the health center.This program encouraged general practitioners to screen earlier—before overt symptoms appear. The health care center additionally provides support to participants interested in establishing a community organization with social and cognitively stimulating activities, thereby extending the program’s impact and reinforcing local preventive strategies.Short-term evaluations highlighted improvements in social engagement, while long-term follow-up showed that participants proactively addressed broader health issues after completing the program.The results of long term follow up suggests that a multidisciplinary primary-care TPE program can empower older adults to adopt preventive behaviors and reduce anxiety regarding cognitive decline.