Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in a community population of older persons: higher than previously reported

Article Abstract:

A study designed to estimate the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease was conducted on a population of outpatients who had not been previously referred for treatment. Most prior studies on Alzheimer's disease have used subjects who had already been institutionalized and, therefore, these results may not have given an accurate assessment of the general population. This sampling included 467 persons who were extracted from a larger study group composed of 3,623 older individuals (80.8 percent were over the age of 65) in a geographically defined area. The group of 467 underwent testing consisting of neurological, neuropsychological, and clinical examinations. The results indicated that a higher prevalence of Alzheimer's disease exists in the general population than some previous studies have indicated, and that the condition is strongly correlated with increased age. Among those in the 65- to 74-year-old age group the prevalence was 3.0 percent, from age 75 to 84, 18.7 percent, and the rate in individuals over 85 was 47.2 percent. It was also observed that of all severe to moderate dementia diagnosed, 84.1 percent of the cases were attributed to Alzheimer's disease. Some limitations of the study include the fact that the information used was retrospective. Also, some potential subjects many have been omitted from the study by death or institutionalization and, therefore, the actual prevalence rates may be even higher. In conclusion, this study indicated that Alzheimer's disease is a much more common condition than previously believed and the prevalence of the disease increases rapidly over the age of 65.

Aging, Analysis, Case studies, Diagnosis, Dementia, Brain, Cognition disorders in old age, Geriatric cognitive disorders

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Age-specific incidence of Alzheimer's disease in a community population

Article Abstract:

The incidence of Alzheimer's disease appears to increase with age. Researchers followed 2,313 people over 65 years old in East Boston, MA for an average of 4.3 years. All were free of Alzheimer's disease at the beginning of the study. Of 642 people tested for Alzheimer's disease during that time, 95 had probably Alzheimer's. The incidence of Alzheimer's disease increased in the older age groups. The rate was 0.6% per year in those 65 to 69 years old, 1% in those 70 to 74 years old, 2% in those 75 to 79 years old, 3.3% in those 80 to 84 years old and 8.4% in those older than 85. As life expectancy increases and the number of elderly people increases, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease will probably increase.

Health aspects, Aged, Elderly, Demographic aspects

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Current and Remote Blood Pressure and Cognitive Decline

Article Abstract:

Chronic high blood pressure may have a negative impact on intellectual ability. Researchers gave mental status tests and other tests of intellectual ability to 2,068 people in the Hypertension Detection and Follow-Up Program who had their blood pressure measured regularly over a 9-year period. Although there was no strong link between blood pressure and intellectual ability, those with high blood pressure were more likely to make mistakes on tests of mental function.

Psychological aspects, Hypertension, Risk factors, Cognition disorders, Cognitive disorders

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