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Review
. 2014 Oct-Dec;8(4):317-322.
doi: 10.1590/S1980-57642014DN84000003.

An update on aging and dementia in Chile

Patricio Fuentes  1 , Cecilia Albala  2
Affiliations
Review

An update on aging and dementia in Chile

Patricio Fuentes et al. Dement Neuropsychol. 2014 Oct-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Chile is in an advanced demographic transition stage with the population over 60 years of age representing 15% of the total population and whose number of elderly has more than doubled between 1990 and 2014. Rapid economic advancement has promoted significant changes in social organization to which the country is not accustomed. The mental health problems of the elderly are particularly challenging to the country's present social and health structures. The prevalence of dementia in people over 60 years exceeds 8% and is even higher in the rural population. There is more training on dementia in the local medical and scientific community, increased awareness within the civilian community but insufficient responsiveness from the state to the broad diagnostic and therapeutic requirements of patients and caregivers. The objective of the present study was to provide an update of the information on dementia in the context of the ageing process in Chile.

O Chile está num avançado estágio de transição epidemiológica, com a população de 60 anos ou mais representando 15% da população total e o número de idosos tem mais que dobrado entre 1990 e 2014. O rápido avanço econômico tem promovido significantes mudanças na organização social para as quais o país não está habituado. Os problemas de saúde mental em idosos são particularmente desafiadores para as estruturas sociais e de saúde atuais do país. A prevalência de demência entre aqueles com idade superior a 60 anos excede 8% e é mais elevada na população rural. Há mais treinamento em demência na população médica e comunidade científica locais, aumentando o conhecimento dentro da comunidade civil, porém, com insuficiente resposta do estado às necessidades diagnósticas e terapêuticas de pacientes e cuidadores. O objetivo deste estudo foi providenciar uma atualização da informação sobre demência no contexto de envelhecimento cerebral do Chile.

Keywords: Chile; aging; dementia; demography; epidemiology.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of dementia by years of education, Chile 2010.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Life expectancy at birth and estimated number of dementia cases. Chile 2002-2050
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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