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Increasing prevalence of dementia among very old people
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine.
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine.
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine.
2011 (English)In: Age and Ageing, ISSN 0002-0729, E-ISSN 1468-2834, Vol. 40, no 2, p. 243-249Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

BACKGROUND: it is unknown whether the age-specific prevalence of dementia among the very old changes over time.

METHODS: this study compares the prevalence of dementia in two population-based cross-sectional samples of very old people in northern Sweden in 2000-02 and in 2005-07. In total, 430 individuals aged 85 and older (mean age 89.5 years, 71.4% women) were evaluated for dementia in the first cross-section and 465 individuals (mean age 90.2 years, 70.9% women) in the second. Trained assessors performed assessments and interviews during home visits and collected information from carers, relatives and medical records. Dementia was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria.

RESULTS: the prevalence of dementia in the total sample was 26.5% in 2000-02 and 37.2% in 2005-07 (P = 0.001). There was also an increase in the prescription of different antihypertensive agents, antilipemic agents and choline esterase inhibitors, and more people had had heart surgery in the later sample.

CONCLUSIONS: in this sample of very old people, an increase in the age-specific prevalence of dementia was detected over 5 years. Possible reasons for this may be extended survival among individuals with risk factors for dementia and among individuals with established dementia.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Oxford Journals , 2011. Vol. 40, no 2, p. 243-249
Keywords [en]
dementia, aged, 80 and over, cross-sectional study, prevalence, epidemiology, elderly
National Category
Geriatrics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-47976DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afq173PubMedID: 21258087Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-79951807224OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-47976DiVA, id: diva2:445926
Available from: 2011-10-05 Created: 2011-10-05 Last updated: 2023-03-23Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Dementia, depression and delirium in the very old: prevalences and associated factors
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Dementia, depression and delirium in the very old: prevalences and associated factors
2013 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Emotional suffering in old age is largely caused by a variety of psychiatric disorders which are often, however, undertreated and underrecognized. This leads to reduced quality of life and functional status and increased morbidity and mortality. Dementia, delirium and depression are common disorders in the very old, and are similar in several ways. All have multiple causes and are diagnosed by means of symptomatic criteria, are challenging to diagnose and difficult to differentiate from each other in the very old. They often coexist in the same individual, and may have common risk factors.

The overall aim of this thesis was to add to our knowledge about threats to successful aging, by investigating the prevalences of dementia, depression and delirium, and factors associated with these three disorders. Further aims were to measure change over time in the prevalence of dementia and depression, respectively, and to investigate the risk factors for incident depression. This thesis uses the population-based Umeå85+/GErontological Regional DAtabase (GERDA) material.

In 2000-2002, every other 85-year-old, all 90-year-olds and all people ≥95 years living in six municipalities in Västerbotten, Sweden were invited to participate, and in 2005-2007 the process was repeated, with the additional inclusion of the corresponding populations of two municipalities in Österbotten, Finland. A third data collection was carried out in 2010-2012. Trained assessors carried out assessments in the form of structured interviews during one or more home visits, recorded current medication and reviewed medical records obtained from general practitioners and hospitals. In 2000-2002 the prevalence of dementia was 17% among 85-year-olds, 24% among 90-year-olds and 46% among those aged ≥95 years. In 2005-2007 dementia prevalence reached 28% among 85-year-olds, 40% among 90-yearolds and 45% among those aged ≥95 years. The prevalence of dementia in the total sample was 27% in 2000-2002 and 37% in 2005-2007 (p=0.001). In 2000-2002 the prevalence of depressive disorders was 24% among 85-yearolds, 34% among 90-year-olds and 31% among those aged ≥95 years. In 2005-2007 the prevalence of depressive disorders was 33% among 85-year-olds, 39% among 90-year-olds and 38% among those aged ≥95 years. The prevalence of depressive disorders in the total sample was 29% in 2000-2002 and 37% in 2005-2007 (p=0.025). Among participants not depressed at baseline, 26% had developed depression after five years. Factors independently associated with new cases of depression at follow-up were hypertension, a history of stroke and a higher score on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale at baseline. The thirtyday prevalence of delirium in 2005-2007 was 17% among 85-year-olds, 21% among 90-year-olds and 39% among participants aged ≥95 years. Delirium prevalence among individuals with dementia was higher than among those without dementia (52% vs. 5%, p<.001). Factors independently associated with delirium superimposed on dementia in a multivariate logistic regression model were depression, heart failure, living in an institution and prescribed antipsychotics.

There was a high prevalence of dementia, depression and delirium in the papers comprising this thesis, and 55% had at least one of the three disorders. The prevalence of dementia and depression also increased between 2000-2002 and 2005-2007, after controlling for age and sex. Dementia and depression were important associated factors for delirium and half of those with dementia were depressed. The increasing age-specific prevalence of depression seems to be associated with the increasing age-specific prevalence of dementia. The papers presented are among the first to report a significantly increasing age-specific prevalence of dementia and depression among very old people. More knowledge about associated factors and risk factors concerning these disorders may be helpful for carers and decision-makers, as well as providing reference values for studies in other regions. Further efforts are needed in both care and research to better prevent, screen for, diagnose and treat dementia, depression and delirium, especially considering the growing number of very old people.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Umeå Universitet, 2013. p. 101
Series
Umeå University medical dissertations, ISSN 0346-6612 ; 1595
Keywords
dementia, depression, depressive disorders, delirium, aged, 80 and over, epidemiology, cross-sectional study, prevalence, risk factors, GDS-15, stroke, hypertension
National Category
Geriatrics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-79984 (URN)978-91-7459-718-9 (ISBN)
Public defence
2013-09-28, Vårdvetarhuset, aulan, Umeå universitet, Umeå, 09:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Projects
Umeå85+/GERDA
Available from: 2013-09-06 Created: 2013-09-05 Last updated: 2018-06-08Bibliographically approved

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Mathillas, JohanLövheim, HugoGustafson, Yngve

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