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. 2011 Jan;7(1):80-93.
doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2010.11.002.

Trends in the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and cognitive impairment in the United States

Walter A Rocca  1 , Ronald C Petersen, David S Knopman, Liesi E Hebert, Denis A Evans, Kathleen S Hall, Sujuan Gao, Frederick W Unverzagt, Kenneth M Langa, Eric B Larson, Lon R White
Affiliations

Trends in the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and cognitive impairment in the United States

Walter A Rocca et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Declines in heart disease and stroke mortality rates are conventionally attributed to reductions in cigarette smoking, recognition and treatment of hypertension and diabetes, effective medications to improve serum lipid levels and to reduce clot formation, and general lifestyle improvements. Recent evidence implicates these and other cerebrovascular factors in the development of a substantial proportion of dementia cases. Analyses were undertaken to determine whether corresponding declines in age-specific prevalence and incidence rates for dementia and cognitive impairment have occurred in recent years. Data spanning 1 or 2 decades were examined from community-based epidemiological studies in Minnesota, Illinois, and Indiana, and from the Health and Retirement Study, which is a national survey. Although some decline was observed in the Minnesota cohort, no statistically significant trends were apparent in the community studies. A significant reduction in cognitive impairment measured by neuropsychological testing was identified in the national survey. Cautious optimism appears justified.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement for authors

The authors have no conflicts to disclose. The sponsors had neither a role in the analysis or interpretation of these data, nor in the content of the paper. Appropriate approval procedures were used concerning human subjects.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Time trends in age-specific incidence rates of dementia in men and women combined from 1975 through 1994 (moving 3-year average incidence rates per 100,000 person-years): Rochester, Minnesota.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Time trends in age-specific incidence rates of Alzheimer’s disease in men and women combined from 1975 through 1994 (moving 3-year average incidence rates per 100,000 person-years): Rochester, Minnesota.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Birth cohort analyses of age-specific incidence rates in men and women combined for dementia (left panel) and Alzheimer’s disease (right panel): Rochester, Minnesota. The central year of each birth cohort served as the cohort label. Ten 5-year birth cohorts from 1885 through 1930 were considered.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Study design for determining incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in Chicago Health and Aging Project.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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