Prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment in Southeastern Spain: the Ariadna study.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND) and dementia in a general elderly population and to examine the associated socio-demographic factors.


METHODS
The Ariadna study is a population-based cross-sectional study of cognitive function involving 1074 individuals aged 65-96 years from the Murcia Region of southeastern Spain. Prevalence, adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence was 8.7% (95% CI 7.1-10.5) for aMCI, 14.5% (95% CI 12.4-16.8) for CIND and 5.5% (95% CI 4.3-7.1) for dementia. Dementia was associated with age (OR 1.13 95% CI 1.09-1.18 for a 1-year increase in age). Illiterate subjects were more likely to present aMCI (OR 2.59; 95% CI 1.09-6.14) and dementia (OR 4.09; 95% CI 1.28-13.08) than subjects with secondary or higher education. Rural area residents (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.07-4.24) and women (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.06-2.22) were more likely to have CIND.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of dementia was low, despite a high prevalence of aMCI and CIND. Dementia was strongly associated with age and education. CIND was associated with living in a rural area and with female sex, while aMCI was associated with illiteracy.
Gavrila
D
D
Epidemiology Department, Murcia Health Council, Murcia, Spain. diana.gavrila@carm.es
Antúnez
C
C
Tormo
M J
MJ
Carles
R
R
García Santos
J M
JM
Parrilla
G
G
Fortuna
L
L
Jiménez
J
J
Salmerón
D
D
Navarro
C
C
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population