title: The prevalence of dementia in urban and rural areas of China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Chinese population has been aging rapidly and the country's economy has experienced exponential growth during the past three decades. The goal of this study was to estimate the changes in the prevalence of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) among elderly Chinese individuals and to analyze differences between urban and rural areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the years 2008 to 2009, we performed a population-based cross-sectional survey with a multistage cluster sampling design. Residents aged 65 years and older were drawn from 30 urban (n = 6096) and 45 rural (n = 4180) communities across China. Participants were assessed with a series of clinical examinations and neuropsychological measures. Dementia, AD, and VaD were diagnosed according to established criteria via standard diagnostic procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of dementia, AD, and VaD among individuals aged 65 years and older were 5.14% (95% CI, 4.71-5.57), 3.21% (95% CI, 2.87-3.55), and 1.50% (95% CI, 1.26-1.74), respectively. The prevalence of dementia was significantly higher in rural areas than in urban ones (6.05% vs. 4.40%, P < .001). The same regional difference was also seen for AD (4.25% vs. 2.44%, P < .001) but not for VaD (1.28% vs. 1.61%, P = .166). The difference in AD was not evident when the sample was stratified by educational level. Moreover, the risk factors for AD and VaD differed for urban and rural populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A notably higher prevalence of dementia and AD was found in rural areas than in urban ones, and education might be an important reason for the urban-rural differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China. Electronic address: jjp@ccmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Cuibai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Aihong
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authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Xiangfei
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authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Fu Xing Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
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authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Guangzhou Brain Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, P. R. China.
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authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, P. R. China.
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authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Youlong
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authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jinlin Province, P. R. China.
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authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Fourth Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jinlin Province, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yong
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authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qi
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authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Weishan
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authors.affiliation: National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, P. R. China.
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authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Nan
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authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiumei
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authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Haiqing
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authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
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authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Liyong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Longfei
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authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Juexian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Peijie
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authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yuemei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yuchen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Geriatric Hospital, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jihui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China.
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mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Dementia; Prevalence; Risk factors; Vascular dementia