[Prevalence of dementia in several regions of the world: analysis of epidemiologic studies from 1994 to 2000].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the prevalence studies of dementia from 1994 to 2000.


METHODS
The papers were searched on Medline and Lilacs and the inclusion criteria were: to be an original study, that estimated dementia prevalence and investigated community samples.


RESULTS
thirty-eight studies were evaluated from all continents. The mean age-specific prevalence rates of dementia were 1,17% for the 65-69 years group, and 54,83% over 95 years. The results were strongly influenced by age. Dementia prevalence rates were higher on women on 75% of the papers reviewed. The Alzheimer's disease/vascular dementia ratio was higher in South America and lower in Asia.


CONCLUSIONS
Methodological advances were found, specially regarding the homogeneity of diagnostic criteria. The effect of age on the rates of dementia prevalence was pronounced, up to 90 years of age.
Lopes
Marcos A
MA
Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
Bottino
Cássio M C
CM
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D000569:Americas / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution