The Prevalence of dementia in Korea; A population-based cross-sectional survey from public center for dementia in Seoul.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To report the prevalence of dementia and to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of dementia from the urban older adults using high qualified data through public services network.

DESIGN: The study designed two-stage work-up for evaluation of cognitive decline. Initially, a sample of 3712 people with age 65 or older participating performed the Korean version (K-MMSE) and the Korean dementia screening questionnaire (K-DSQ) with the basic social information. The neurologist conducted a neuropsychological test and neurological examination to two hundreds twelve people showing cognitive dysfunction at the screening test and history taking. All participants who were suggestive of cognitive impairment did 3Tesla brain Magnetic Resonanace Image (MRI) and necessary laboratory work-up at the Hanyang medical center.

MEASUREMENTS: Dementia was defined using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, Fourth Edition and National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer`s Disease and Related Disorders Association.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence rate of dementia (all types) was 5.7%; 2.7% for Alzheimer`s disease (AD), 1.2% for vascular dementia (VaD). Main cause of dementia was Alzheimer`s disease as 47.6%. But the relative prevalence of VaD ----was high compared to previously report. Age, education, exercise, history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and stroke were identified risk factors for dementia. But there were no gender differences in dementia. The relative frequency of illiteracy was 26.1% in the elderly living in Seongdong, and 44.1% was in the demented group.

CONCLUSION : This was the first consecutive community-based epidemiologic study by dementia specialist using MRI and neuropsychological test in Korea through government social service network. The prevalence for dementia in Seongdong district was lower than that of previous report. But the frequency of de-novo patient of any kind of dementia was 97.8%. The high illiterate rate was a main obstacle to carry out with an existing precise neuropsychological test. Long-term follow up and observational study will be needed. It is to be hoped that this results will contribute to bring the active medical role to the community and new neuropsychological test for illiteracy in the community.