1. Epidemiology of Dementia
Stefania Maggi
CNR-Institute of Neuroscience
Aging Branch
Padova, Italy

2. Worldwide population 65+
milion
The proportion of
Older people will
Increase from 7%
to 12%
Source: United Nation, Population Aging and Development, 2009

4. Worldwide dementia: the numbers will double every twenty years!!
Million
Ferri et al., 2005, Lancet 366:

5. Epidemiology studying dementia
Give the real size of dementia:
Prevalence
Incidence
Risk factors
Protective factors (biologic, behavioural, socio-economic)
Dementia diagnosis!

6. Diagnosis: Revised criteria NINDS-ADRDA (McKhann, 2011) for all-cause dementia
Cognitive or behavioural (neuropsychiatric) symptoms
Interfere with work or usual activities
Represent a decline from previous functioning levels
Are not explained by delirium
Cognitive impairment established by objective cognitive assessment, self- and proxy-reported, and finally confirmed by neuropsychological testing
Deficits in at least two following domains:
Acquire and remember new information
Reasoning and handling complex task
Poor judgment
Visuospatial abilities
Language
Changes in personality, behaviour, or comportment

7. Prevalence studies

8. Worldwide Prevalence of dementia
Qiu et al., 2009, Dialogues. Clin. Neurosci. 11:

9. EURODEM STUDY Mean prevalence of dementia: 6,4 % 65+ years old
Kuopio Study (Finland)
Kungsholmen Project (Sweden)
Odense Study (Denmark)
Rotterdam Study (Netherlands)
Melton Mowbray (UK)
MCR-ALPHA (UK)
PAQUID (France)
Pamplona Study (Spain)
Zaragoza Study (Spain)
ZARADEMP (Spain)
ILSA (Italy)
Mean prevalence of dementia: 6,4 % 65+ years old

10. EURODEM STUDY Kuopio Study (Finland) Kungsholmen Project (Sweden)
Odense Study (Denmark)
Rotterdam Study (Netherlands)
Melton Mowbray (UK)
MCR-ALPHA (UK)
PAQUID (France)
Pamplona Study (Spain)
Zaragoza Study (Spain)
ZARADEMP (Spain)
ILSA (Italy)

11. General Conclusions on Dementia prevalence studies
AD prevalence increases with age doubling every 5 years from age 65
Prevalence of AD is higher than prevalence of VaD
Need to better define the “mixed” form of dementia
Trends in prevalence reflects the influence of the incidence of disease and survival
Prevalence and incidence studies based on either hospital records or volunteers underestimate the AD
Poor sensitivity of screening test

12. Incidence studies

13. Worldwide dementia Incidence
Qiu et al., 2009, Dialogues. Clin. Neurosci. 11:

14. Per 1000 persons-year
EURODEM

15. General Conclusions on Dementia Incidence studies
Incidence increases by 2 times about every 5 years
Female population has an increased risk of AD
Incidence is influenced by applied diagnostic criteria
Differences among countries are more pronounced for AD and VaD comparison respect to other forms of dementia

16. Risk and Protective factors for dementia

17. Risk Factors Protective Factors APOE-4 allele: susceptibility gene
Vascular RF (obesity, high cholesterol)
Vascular disease (diabetes, hypertension, TIA, WM lesion)
Lifestyle (heavy alcohol intake, smoking)
High serum Homocysteine
Inflammation
Toxic exposure (aluminium, mercury)
Traumatic brain injury
Depression
Antioxidant (Vitam E and C)
High serum levels of folate and Vitamin B12
Polyunsaturated fatty acid (Omega 3)
High education level
Social network and engagement
Regular physical activity
Active mind

18. Survival of patients with dementia

19. ILSA S tudy
ILSA coorte: dementia vs.non D
ILSA coorte
P<0.05

20. Survival in ILSA coorte: disability
According to the Global Burden of Disease estimates, dementia
Contributes 11.2% of years lived with disability in people 60+, more than stroke (9.5%), musculoskeletal ds (8.9%), CVD (5%), cancer (2.4%)
Demented
Non demented
P<0.05
P<0.05

21. Hazard Ratio and 95% CI of death in the ILSA cohort
Noale M et al. Dement geriatr Cogn Disord 2003

22. I COSTI DELLA MALATTIA DI ALZHEIMER
COSTO MEDIO ANNUO : circa 43, Euro (Gambina, et al, 2010)
Due studi italiani precedenti (Co.Dem., Bianchetti 1998; Cavallo e Fattore 1997) calcolavano un valore medio tra i 93 e i 98 milioni.
In tutti questi studi i costi indiretti, sostenuti in massima parte dalle famiglie, incidono per circa 80% sul totale.
I costi associati alla gestione della Demenza di Alzheimer incidono sul PIL, di nazioni diverse, dal 0,6% al 4% circa.
Gli studi italiani (Cavallo, Fattore 1997 e Trabucchi 1994) stimavano in Italia una percentuale pari a 1,16% sul PIL, che oggi sono stimati intorno al 4,5%.

23. Epidemiologia della Demenze: conclusioni

24. Dementia is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that will grow up overtime.
Multidisciplinary approches to assess dementia (genetic, epidemiologist, clinicians)
Prevalence and Incidence increase exponentially with age (65 +) worldwide
Take into account Risk and Protective factors
In patients with dementia, a comprehensive approach including any comorbidities may improve the prognosis quoad vitam e quoad valetudinem