The ZARADEMP Project on the incidence, prevalence and risk factors of dementia (and depression) in the elderly community: I. The context and the objectives

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives: The public health dimension of the problem ofdementia and depression in the elderly population is well documented, but epidemiologicaldata are generally considered to be insufficient and, at times, contradictory. This paperidentifies relevant research areas for the ZARADEMP Project, which follows the ZaragozaStudy (or ZARADEMP 0) and is part of both EURODEM and EURODEP Studies.Methods: Review of the literature. Hypotheses emerging in previous studies of thisresearch group.Results: The following relevant objectives to study in relation to dementia (and depression)have been identified: a) potential variations over time in the prevalence rate; b) provisionof reliable estimations of incidence rates, specific for age and gender; c) data aboutthe course and natural history of so called “mild cognitive deficit”; d) association betweenhypothesized risk factors and cases of dementia (and depression) and its most frequentsubtypes; and e) testing of hypotheses related to the overlap between dementia and depressionand, specifically, to what extent depression has an increased risk for DAT. Otherobjectives of the study are also reviewed, in particular the cross-cultural comparison offindings in Zaragoza and in other European cities incorporated in both EURODEM andEURODEP Studies. The importance of maintaining good, contemporary methodologicalstandards is emphasized.Conclusions: A number of relevant research areas in the epidemiology of both dementiaand depression in the elderly have been identified. Case-control studies based on incidentcases of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT) to adequately assess risk factorsseem particularly timely (AU)