title: Rate of dementia diagnoses according to the degree of aging of the population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a lack of information regarding geographical differences in the incidence and prevalence of dementia diagnosis according to the degree of aging of the population. The objectives of this study were to analyze the rate of dementia diagnoses, and to compare the dementia subtypes and the clinical characteristics of the patients depending on the degree of aging of their municipalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the Registry of Dementias of Girona (ReDeGi), containing the cases of dementia diagnosed in the memory clinics of the Health Region of Girona, in Catalonia (Spain), during 2007-2012. The municipalities were classified by a cluster analysis as aged or young municipalities according to their proportion of older people using population ageing indicators. The incidence rates of dementia diagnosis in each type of municipality were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ReDeGi registered 4,314 cases in the municipalities under surveillance. The clinical incidence of dementia was lower in aged municipalities (4.5 vs. 6.1 cases per 1,000 person-years aged 65 and over). Patients from young municipalities had an increased frequency of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The environment may influence the clinical manifestations of dementia that predispose people to visit health specialists and obtain a diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: IAS Research Unit[Girona Biomedical Research Institute]IDIBGI. Girona,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calvó-Perxas
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit,Hospital de Figueres,Figueres,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguirregomozcorta
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Campdevànol,Campdevànol,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Casas
authors.affiliation: Dementia Unit,Hospital de Palamós,Palamós,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flaqué
authors.affiliation: Dementia Unit,Hospital de Santa Caterina,Salt,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernàndez
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department,Hospital d'Olot,Olot,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.affiliation: Neurodegenerative Disease Unit,Hospital Universitari Dr. Josep Trueta,Girona,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Neurology Department,Hospital de Blanes,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viñas
authors.affiliation: IAS Research Unit[Girona Biomedical Research Institute]IDIBGI. Girona,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Secundino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: López-Pousa
authors.affiliation: IAS Research Unit[Girona Biomedical Research Institute]IDIBGI. Girona,Catalonia,Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garre-Olmo
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002947:Cities / Q000145:classification*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012042:Registries; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: healthcare disparities