Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia in the Egyptian elderly

Prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia in the Egyptian elderly

El-Auqla, Muhammad A.

Thesis ; M.D. 2002

A multi-phase design was adapted that included three phases; phase one for adaptation of the assessment tools, phase two for screening for dementia and phase three for diagnosis of dementia and subtypes of dementia. A representative sample of community dwelling elderly included male and female subjects 60 years and over, living in an urban community, Cairo district (El Nahda city, n = 199) and a rural community, (Mit kenana village Northwest to Cairo city, n = 549). The results of phase one showed reliable and valid Arabic versions of the MMSE and the CERAD (Consortium to Establish Registry for Alzheimer's disease materials for diagnosis of AD and other types of dementia)neuropsychological tests. According to phase two; the prevalence of cognitive decline (MMSE less than 24) was 28.2% in the rural community compared to 22.6% in the urban community.

The prevalence of cognitive decline was significantly related to increasing subjects' age in both groups. In phase three; the prevalence of dementia was 2% in the urban community and 3.5% in the rural community. In the urban community 57% of the subjects with dementia have AD and 43 % have Vascular dementia while in the rural community 45% have AD , 35% have vascular, 10% syphilitic and 10% with brain tumor. Dementia was significantly related to hearing impairment, increasing age and the need for assistance with the activities and instrumental activities of daily livings in both groups.

Ain-Shams Univ., Cairo (EGY). Fac. of Med.

http://www.psychiatry-research-eg.com/texts/ins/HQ2008-10484.pdf