Epidemiology: Assignment 3 By:

Introduction: Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia Dementia relates to a condition that affects thinking, memory, and the ability to do routine activities (Prince, 2015). Dementia is one of the leading causes of mortality in the world (De Cock, 2013). Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent type of dementia. The prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease have been increasing gradually globally. The condition has major adverse health impacts on the victim and the community as a whole. Several public health interventions have been made for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects the cognitive abilities of individuals. Alzheimer being the most common type of dementia accounts for approximately 70% of all cases of dementia.

Types of Dementia This graph is an illustration of the level of prevalence of different types of dementia. From the graph it is clear that Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. (Prince, 2015)

The Incidence of Dementia The approximated worldwide new dementia cases are 9.9 million every year (Prince, 2015). The incidence of dementia is highest in high- income states. Dementia’s incidence is positively related to age. The incidence of dementia has been increasing gradually globally. There are more new cases of dementia in developed countries than in the developing countries. The increased incidence of dementia is associated with increased life expectancy since the aging population is more prone to the illness.

The Incidence of Dementia by Age This graph illustrates a positive correlation between the incidence of dementia and age. The number of new cases of dementia increase with increase in age. (Prince, 2015)

The Prevalence of Dementia The worldwide prevalence of dementia is approximately 46.8 million individuals (Prince, 2015). The prevalence of the disease is projected to double after every 20 years. Prevalence of dementia is expected to increase at a higher rate in low and middle-income nations than in high-income states (Prince, 2015). Increased life expectancy is associated with the increased prevalence of dementia. The worldwide prevalence of dementia has been increasing continuously over the years. It is projected that prevalence of this illness will continue to increase rapidly. The rate of prevalence of dementia is expected to be higher in the low and middle income countries than in the developed countries. Most cases of dementia are associated with old age. This explains why increasing life expectancy leads to increased prevalence of dementia.

Prevalence of Dementia in Countries with Different Income Levels This graphical representation of the prevalence of dementia shows that dementia is highly prevalent in high income countries. This is associated with the continually changing demographic and social changes in these countries. Improved healthcare systems have led to increased life expectancy which is a major cause of increased prevalence of dementia. Changing lifestyles have also contributed majorly in increased prevalence of the condition. (Prince, 2015)

The Health Impacts of Alzheimer’s The main health impact of Alzheimer’s on an individual is decline or loss of memory (Prince, 2015). Alzheimer’s disease is associated with the development of emotional stress and depression among caregivers. Alzheimer’s disease is mainly associated with gradual decline and subsequent loss of memory in individuals. This condition places a heavy burden on the caregivers especially close family members of the victim. The emotional burden and financial constraints incurred in supporting victims of Alzheimer’s disease cause emotional stress which leads to depression in severe cases to the caregivers.

Public Health Interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease Primary prevention by raising awareness of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (Norton et al., 2014). Diagnosis for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Public health agencies have taken various initiatives to reduce the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. Primary prevention has been enhanced through educating members of the public about the main risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease. Various screening programs have been initiated in health facilities to facilitate early detection of the illness among citizens.

The Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease The primary prevention strategy has enhanced the adoption of positive lifestyles. Diagnosis approach has led to increased identification of Alzheimer’s disease cases, which enhances monitoring and management of illness (Norton et al., 2014). The public health interventions for Alzheimer’s disease have proved effective in reducing the prevalence and incidence of the illness. The primary prevention intervention has led to most people abandoning unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking of cigarettes. Increased diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease has enhanced better management of the illness due to its early detection among individuals.

Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Article on Dementia Dawson et al., (2015) investigate the effectiveness of support offered to dementia patients at home. The researchers reviewed the existing literature on various ways of providing care to dementia patients. Inconsistencies in research on dementia were identified as one of the challenges hindering the efficient delivery of care to dementia patients. This peer-reviewed article is an example of different research works carried out on Alzheimer’s disease as a global health issue. The article illustrates various ways in which caregivers offer support to dementia patients in home settings. By understanding the effectiveness of the existing support offered to these victims, strategies can be laid focusing on how this support can be improved to reduce stigmatization and improve the quality of life of these patients.

A Research Study on Alzheimer’s Disease Vos et al., (2013) carried out a longitudinal research to investigate the prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease in a cognitively normal people cohort. The research was set to test various criteria for identifying preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. One of the research findings is that preclinical Alzheimer’s disease is highly prevalent among the aging population. Also, the study revealed the diagnosis of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease as a strategic intervention. This research study illustrates various initiatives taken to improve the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The study provides the criteria used to determine the likelihood of a normally cognitive individual developing Alzheimer’s disease. The study contributes to the public health interventions for Alzheimer’s disease aimed at early detection of the illness.

Conclusion This presentation has provided a detailed analysis of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease affects the cognitive activities of individuals. The incidence and prevalence of dementia are expected to continue increasing worldwide. Primary prevention and early diagnosis have been identified as the main interventions for dementia. From this presentation, it is clear that Alzheimer’s disease is a critical global health issue. Different stakeholders including the government, healthcare providers, and the general public should collaborate towards the development of initiatives, aimed at the reduction of the incidence and prevalence of this disease on a global scale.

References Dawson, A., Bowes, A., Kelly, F., Velzke, K., & Ward, R. (2015). Evidence of what works to support and sustain care at home for people with dementia: a literature review with a systematic approach. BMC geriatrics, 15(1), 59. doi: 10.1186/s12877-015-0053-9. De Cock, K. M., Simone, P. M., Davison, V., & Slutsker, L. (2013). The New Global Health. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 19(8), 1192-1197. doi: 10.3201/eid1908.130121. Norton, S., Matthews, F. E., Barnes, D. E., Yaffe, K., & Brayne, C. (2014). Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease: an analysis of population-based data. The Lancet Neurology, 13(8), 788-794. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70136-X. Prince, M. J., et al. (2015). World Alzheimer Report 2015: The global impact of dementia: an analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends. Retrieved from https://www.alz.co.uk/research/WorldAlzheimerReport2015.pdf Vos, S. J., Xiong, C., Visser, P. J., Jasielec, M. S., Hassenstab, J., Grant, E. A., ... & Fagan, A. M. (2013). Preclinical Alzheimer's disease and its outcome: a longitudinal cohort study. The Lancet Neurology, 12(10), 957-965. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70194-7.