title: Public stigma: the community's tolerance of Alzheimer disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate public stigma relating to Alzheimer disease (AD) and variables correlated with this outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  City of São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of 500 individuals aged 18-65 years, living within the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were interviewed to assess three dimensions of stigma (stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination). Stigma was considered present in this study when all three domains were simultaneously fulfilled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 41.6% of the participants expressed stereotypes; 43.4% prejudice; and 35.5% discrimination. Among the whole sample, 14.8% endorsed the stigma definition criterion adopted for this study. Those with fewer years of education were 2.32 times as likely to stigmatize persons carrying AD. Stigma was unaffected by other sociodemographic variables, experience of mental illness, emotional reactions, or general information about AD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dimensions of stigma were highly prevalent in relation to AD. Interventions are needed to reduce the negative effects of stigma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo-UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil. blay@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Sergio Luís
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Blay
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toledo Pisa Peluso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011287:Prejudice; D013240:Stereotyping