For High-Risk Seniors Aged 60 and Over, Early Intervention to Suppress Dementia Progression
Korean Medicine-Based Dementia Prevention: Integrated Services Including Chongmyeongchim Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, and Preventive Education
Nowon District in Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seungrok) announced that it will actively implement the "Korean Medicine-Based Dementia Prevention and Health Promotion Project" as a proactive measure for dementia management.
The aim is to prevent cognitive decline among seniors at high risk for dementia and to reduce the resulting social and economic burdens. In particular, as the number of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and those experiencing pre-dementia cognitive decline continues to rise, the core strategy is a prevention-focused approach that suppresses dementia progression through early intervention.
Through this project, the district will introduce a health promotion program centered on Korean medicine, which is effective in the pre-disease stage, to slow the rate of cognitive decline and improve overall health levels.
To achieve this, the district has launched the "Korean Medicine Dementia Prevention Project Council," which will oversee the entire process from project design and implementation to effectiveness evaluation. The council will establish a community-based integrated health management system by collaborating with designated Korean medicine clinics, centering on the Wolgye Public Health Branch, which is equipped with a Korean medicine health office.
Eligible participants are residents of Nowon District aged 60 or older who either score below the cutoff on the Cognitive Impairment Screening Test (CIST) or score 22 or lower on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), indicating suspected cognitive decline. However, individuals already diagnosed with dementia or currently undergoing medication treatment are excluded.
Selected participants will first undergo five types of blood tests to determine eligibility for herbal medicine. Based on individual consultations with a Korean medicine doctor, they will receive integrated services such as up to 20 sessions of "Chongmyeongchim" acupuncture, a personalized herbal prescription (one dose), and an eight-session dementia prevention education and cognitive enhancement exercise program.
These services can be received at any of the 20 participating Korean medicine clinics chosen by the participant, while the education and exercise programs will be conducted at the Wolgye and Sanggye Public Health Branches.
The application period is from May 26 to June 13, and residents can apply by phone to any of the 20 participating clinics. For further details, residents should refer to the Nowon District Public Health Center website.
The district expects this project to lay the foundation for seniors to live healthily within the community and to play a positive role in raising awareness and expanding policies for dementia prevention.
In addition, the district is accelerating efforts to establish "Dementia Safe Villages" to strengthen community-based dementia services. In particular, a comprehensive survey and follow-up management are being conducted for residents aged 75 and older. For those identified with cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment through the survey, a mobile "Dementia Safe Center" is being operated to provide tailored case management, including neurocognitive testing, medical consultations, and cognitive programs.
Oh Seungrok, Mayor of Nowon District, stated, "Dementia is not simply an individual issue, but a complex disease that affects families and the entire community. We hope that this project will become a leading local government model for dementia prevention, proactively responding to the super-aged society."
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