[Prevalence of dementia among rural elderly in Gushan township, Fuzhou]

Abstract

Objective: To study the prevalence of dementia and its related risk factors in people aged 65 years and older in Gushan township.

Methods: People aged 65 years or older in 22 villages of Gushan township were screened, from July 2007 to November 2007. Face to face interview with mini-mental state examination, and followed by clinical assessment. A series of neuropsychological examination was done on selected subjects based on the results of the screening tests. Clinical diagnosis on dementia was made according to the Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder Fourth Edition.

Results: Out of the 2913 people 2696 aged 65 years or older, were enrolled. Among the participants, 197 were confirmed of having dementia, accounting for the overall rate as 7.3%. The prevalence rate of dementia was 5.1% in males and 8.9% in females. Prevalence of dementia in the highly educated intellectuals was 9.2%, followed by 5.2%, 3.9% and 2.5% in those having received primary, junior high or senior high school education. Results from logistic regression analysis showed that the major risk factors which influencing the prevalence of dementia would include age, activies of daily living, marital status, monthly income, frequency in watching TV/movie/field show, poker player or tress and taking care of the family etc.

Conclusion: The prevalence rate of dementia went up along with age. Factors as watching TV/movie/field show or playing poker/chess more frequently, as well as taking good care on families tend to help reduce or postpone the development of dementia.