Prevalence and pattern of cognitive impairment in a community cohort of men in South Wales: methodology and findings from the Caerphilly Prospective Study.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment not dementia was investigated in the Caerphilly Prospective Study cohort (men currently aged 65-84 years).


METHODS
Of 1,633 men eligible for cognitive screening, 1,225 (75%) were seen, with those failing the screening criteria (CAMCOG <83 or decline in CAMCOG >9) being neurologically examined.


RESULTS
For dementia, diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, the population prevalence was 5.2% rising to 6.1% in the screened population. For cognitive impairment not dementia, the prevalence in the screened population was 15.6% giving an overall prevalence of cognitive impairment of 21.8%. Prevalence rose fivefold between ages of 65 and 84 years to reach over 50%.


CONCLUSIONS
These figures are likely to underestimate actual prevalence in this population, and developing effective interventions should be a public health priority.
Fish
M
M
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Bayer
A J
AJ
Gallacher
J E J
JE
Bell
T
T
Pickering
J
J
Pedro
S
S
Dunstan
F D
FD
Ben-Shlomo
Y
Y
Ebrahim
S
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology