Prevalence of dementia in a southern European population in two different time periods: the ZARADEMP Project.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of dementia in two different time periods and two different studies.


METHODS
Representative, random samples of the elderly (>65 years) in the Zaragoza Study or ZARADEMP-0 (n = 1080) completed the previous decade, and now in Wave I of the ZARADEMP Project or ZARADEMP-I (n = 3715) were interviewed. Standardized measures included the Geriatric Mental State and the History and Aetiology schedule. Cases of dementia were diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria.


RESULTS
Adjusted, global prevalence of dementia has not varied significantly: it was 5.2% (95% CI = 3.9-6.6) in ZARADEMP-0 and 3.9% (95% CI = 3.3-4.5) in ZARADEMP-I (prevalence ratio = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.56-1.02). However, the prevalence in ZARADEMP-I was significantly lower among men, particularly in all age groups between 70 and 84 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Stability of the global prevalence of dementia in the elderly population has been documented. However, the decreased prevalence found in elderly men stimulated environmental hypotheses.
Lobo
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain. alobo@unizar.es
Saz
P
P
Marcos
G
G
Dia
J L
JL
De-la-Camara
C
C
Ventura
T
T
Montañes
J A
JA
Lobo-Escolar
A
A
Aznar
S
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain