title: Epidemiology of dementia in Ashkelon: the influence of education.
abstract: A population study aimed at evaluating the influence of education on the prevalence of dementia was carried out in Ashkelon, a rural city in Israel. The whole population aged over 75 years was screened, with a very low refusal rate. Altogether, 1501 people were examined, using DSM III-R criteria for dementia. The prevalence of dementia increased with age and was higher among females and immigrants to Israel from Africa and Asia. The most significant correlation was with a low level of education, which completely explained the ethnic differences and partially the female predominance in the frequency of dementia. Our study confirms that schooling appears to be an important protective factor against the development of dementia.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Neurology, Barzilai Medical Center, affiliated to Ben-Gurion Univesity of the Negev, Ashkelon, Israel.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kahana
authors.forename: Yechezkel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Galper
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zilber
authors.forename: Amos D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Korczyn
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D004522:Educational Status; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors