Risk factors for dementia in the epidemiological study of Munguialde County (Basque Country-Spain).

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of degenerative dementias and dementias associated with cerebrovascular disease is increasing. Dementia is one of the most significant public health problem. In recent years, the role of vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia) and depression has been evaluated.The incidence of dementia and risk factors has not been fully investigated in Spain. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD) in elderly people in Munguialde County (Spain). METHODS: A two phase, door-to-door populational study was performed. Demographic variables and the presence of vascular risk factors and depression were recorded. The MMSE, the DSM-IV and the conventional criteria for AD and VD were used in the evaluation. The odds ratio for each risk factor was calculated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 1756 healthy subjects and 175 patients with dementia participated in the study. Of these, 133 had AD, 15 VD and the remainder other dementias. The risk factors for dementia and AD were female sex (OR = 1.67 and 1.97, respectively); age (OR = 1.14 and 1.15); stroke (OR = 7.84 and 3); and depression (OR = 53.08 and 3.19). Stroke was the only risk factor for VD (OR = 119). CONCLUSION: Greater age, female sex, stroke and depression increase the risk of suffering dementia, AD and VD. The relationship between depression, vascular risk factors and dementia has clear public health implications. Prevention and early treatment of vascular risk factors and depression may have an important impact in lowering the risk of dementia and could modify the natural history of the disease.

Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in elderly patients with dementia in Mungialde County (Basque Country, Spain).

BACKGROUND: Determination of the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in elderly patients with dementia in Mungialde. METHODS: 108 subjects with dementia, who participated in a door-to-door epidemiological study, were included. The 12-item Spanish version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory was used to evaluate these symptoms. RESULTS: The prevalence of at least 1 neuropsychiatric symptom was found to be 76.90% for all dementia types, 73.50% in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 80% for the Parkinson-Lewy body dementia complex (PLBD), 78.60% for vascular dementia (VD) and 100% for frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Apathy was found to be the most prevalent symptom for all dementia types and in patients with AD (53.70 and 54.30%, respectively). The next most prevalent symptoms were anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances (35.20, 32.40 and 30.60%) for all dementia types, and anxiety and depression (32.10 and 30.90%) in patients with AD. The most prevalent symptoms in patients with PLBD were apathy, appetite changes, sleep disturbances and agitation (50% each); in patients with VD they were apathy, depression and anxiety (42.90% each), and in patients with FTD they were apathy, anxiety and aberrant motor activity (100% each). CONCLUSIONS: Neuropsychiatric symptoms were found to be prevalent in patients with dementia, irrespective of dementia type.