[Attitude of the elderly to the etiology of memory disorders].
OBJECTIVE
The early recognition of dementia assumes increasing importance. Lay beliefs on the causes of loss of memory play a major part in this regard as they have shown to determine help-seeking behaviour.


METHODS
720 persons aged 75 or older were questioned on their beliefs on the causes of cognitive deficits in the context of the Leipzig Longitudinal Study of the Aged (LEILA 75+).


RESULTS
Almost one-third of the respondents mentioned exclusively biological causes, vascular lesions coming first. One quarter of those questioned ascribed memory deficits to non-biological factors. Every tenth person suspected that they result from a combination of both. One quarter of the elderly did not know any answer.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are contrasted with outcomes of epidemiological dementia research. It is argued that increasing and better quality information of the public are urgently required.
Angermeyer
M C
MC
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie Universitätsklinikum Leipzig Johannisallee 20 04317 Leipzig. krausem@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Ehmann
M
M
Matschinger
H
H
Riedel-Heller
S G
SG
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology