[Prevalence of dementia in the City of Zurich].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to estimate the prevalence rate of dementia (PRD) in relation to age, gender, and ApoE-genotype.


METHODS
The random sample consisted of 465 subjects aged 65 and more. The interview was conducted by means of the Canberra Interview for the Elderly. The genotyping of ApoE has been performed by a combination of the polymerase chain reaction and a gel electrophoresis separation.


RESULTS
The overall PRD amounted to 10.1% (95% CI 6.8-13.3%) and was higher among females (12.2%) than among males (4.9%). The gender difference was of borderline statistical significance (OR 2.17; 95% CI 0.97-4.84 adjusted for age, education level). PRD rose significantly with age. In contrast, the possession of one copy of ApoE-epsilon 4-allele was not associated with a higher risk of having dementia (OR 1.48; 95% CI 0.60-3.63 adjusted for age, gender, education level).


CONCLUSIONS
These results are consistent with the finding from other authors.
Gostynski
Michal
M
Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin, Universität Zürich.
Ajdacic-Gross
Vladeta
V
Gutzwiller
Felix
F
Michel
Jean-Pierre
JP
Herrmann
François
F
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000483:Alleles; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
D001057:Apolipoproteins E