Differences in knowledge of dementia among older adults with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia: A representative nationwide sample of Korean elders.
Lack of knowledge about a disease could impede early diagnosis and may lead to delays in seeking appropriate medical care. The aim of this study was to explore knowledge of dementia (KOD) and to find the determinants of KOD among three groups: older adults with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia.



A representative nationwide sample of 6141 Korean elders aged 65 years or older participated in face-to-face interviews and answered 14 questions pertaining to general information, etiology, symptoms, and treatment of dementia. Stepwise multiple regressions and path analyses probed the relationships between various sociodemographic variables and KOD.



The percentage of correct responses was only 62%. The item 'A person who remembers things that happened in the past does not have dementia' was answered correctly (false) by only 24.8-27% of the respondents in all groups. Older adults with normal cognition had higher KOD scores than those with MCI or dementia. In the normal-cognition group, KOD scores were higher among highly educated, younger, and literate women with no depression and a family history of dementia. In contrast with the determinants in the normal-cognition group, only the ability to read and write predicted KOD scores in the dementia group.



Efforts to enhance KOD in elder adults are needed. Public education regarding the differences between dementia and healthy aging may increase KOD among normal elders and those with MCI. Among elders with dementia, educational materials that do not require literacy may be more helpful in increasing KOD with the aim of preventing treatment delay.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
Jun-Young
JY
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Education, Seoul National University College of Education, Seoul, South Korea.
Soowon
S
Park
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea. Electronic address: kwkimmd@snu.ac.kr.
Ki Woong
KW
Kim
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
Ji Eyon
JE
Kwon
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, South Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, South Korea.
Joon Hyuk
JH
Park
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju, South Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, South Korea.
Moon Doo
MD
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea.
Bong-Jo
BJ
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, South Korea.
Jeong Lan
JL
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Konkuk University Chungju hospital, Chungju, South Korea.
Seok Woo
SW
Moon
Department of Psychiatry, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, South Korea.
Jae Nam
JN
Bae
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Seung-Ho
SH
Ryu
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyunggi Provincial Hospital for the Elderly, Yongin, South Korea.
Jong Chul
JC
Yoon
Department of Psychiatry, Jeonju City Welfare Hospital for the Elderly, Jeonju, South Korea.
Nam-Jin
NJ
Lee
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Dong Young
DY
Lee
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Inje University Snaggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Dong Woo
DW
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, South Korea.
Seok Bum
SB
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, South Korea.
Jung Jae
JJ
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
Chang-Uk
CU
Lee
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Jin Hyeong
JH
Jhoo
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Maeng Je
MJ
Cho
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction; D003704:Dementia; D003866:Depressive Disorder; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D000067010:Literacy; D008297:Male; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012737:Sex Factors
Dementia; Elderly; Knowledge; Mild cognitive impairment