A Study of Dementia in the Geriatric Patients Attending the Out Patient Department of Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT

Background:Dementia is defined as acquired global impairment of higher cortical functions including memory, the capacity to solve problems of day to day living, the performance of learned perceptuo-motor skills, all aspects of language and communication and the control of emotional reaction, in the absence of clouding of consciousness. Methods: This study sample consisted of 95 demented patients seen at the Outpatient department of Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital. Results:comparison between patients with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, these being the most frequent etiologies, a significant difference among the groups in relation to gender was detected, whereby the female gender predominated in Alzheimer Dementia, whereas males predominated in Vascular Dementia. Conclusion: clinicians need to be more vigilant to rule out depression, anxiety and dementia in geriatric patients. The increasing trend in the number of geriatric patients with neuropsychiatric disorders warrants a better healthcare and social support.