The ageing of elderly people.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the performance of activities of daily living, social resources and incidence of dementia in a cohort of elderly Chinese.


METHODS
This was a longitudinal study which measured changes in a five-year interval.


METHODS
The study was conducted in the Henderson district of Singapore at the subjects' homes and at a day centre.


METHODS
A random sample of elderly Chinese was selected in 1985 from the electoral roll of the Henderson constituency and reassessed after 5 years.


METHODS
A semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Older American Resources and Services, and the computerised mental state programme, GMS-AGECAT.


RESULTS
There was no apparent change in social resources after 5 years and the majority of the elderly (80.3%) were still living with their families. On activities of daily living, there was a significant decline especially after the age of 75. The incidence of dementia was 2.01%--the rate of Alzheimer's disease was 0.67% and multi-infarct dementia 1.34%.


CONCLUSIONS
The change in performance of activities of daily living after the age of 75 and the low incidence of dementia were similar to studies in Europe and the United States.
Kua
E H
EH
Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Ko
S M
SM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support