摘要:

Overall evidence from 19 case-control studies of Alzheimer''s disease (AD) and smoking shows a highly significant (p < 0.001) negative association [ever/never smokers, relative risk (RR) 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54–0.76]. Some studies have apparent design faults but the association is clearly evident in those which do not (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.46–0.78). A report of a positive relationship from a prospective study can be dismissed due to unreliability of AD diagnosis on death certificates, and other study weaknesses. Although more data are needed on dose response and to rule out possible confounding, the negative association is consistent with other data suggesting nicotine protects against

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110372

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

An epidemiological survey of self-reported memory complaints and memory performance [assessed with Benton''s visual-retention test (BVRT) and the Wechsler paired-associates test (WPAT)] was undertaken in a community sample of 2,726 noninstitutionalized subjects aged 65 and over living in Gironde (southwestern France). A significant relationship was observed between the presence of self-reported memory problems and lower performance on the BVRT and the WPAT. However, beyond this relationship, there was significant discordance between the two evaluations, explained in part by the fact that the correlates of memory functioning were not related with similar strength to self reports and to actual performance. In general, females and subjects who scored above the depressive symptomatology threshold reported more problems, while lower performances were related to older age and low educational level. The discordance between self reports and actual performance may suggest anosognosia of mild memory deficits and could possibly be a predictor of future intellectual deterioration.

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110373

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The project Epidemiology Research on Dementia in Antwerp (ERDA) estimated the prevalence of dementia in a random, population-based sample, stratified for age and sex. The sample of 1,736 elderly was screened at home with the Mini-Mental State Examination. All elderly under the cutoff of 23–24/30 got a diagnostic examination with the Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination and the DSM-IIIR criteria. The prevalence of dementia in the population above 65 years was estimated at 9%. The following age-specific prevalences of dementia (included mild dementia) were found in the age-groups 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, 80–84, 85+: 0.6, 5.1, 7.6, 16.2 and 33.6%. The prevalence of at least moderate dementia was 0.3, 3.9, 4.0, 11.2 and 25.0%, respectively. The prevalence of dementia, vascular dementia and dementia of the Alzheimer type was markedly higher in women th

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110374

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The mortality for multiple sclerosis in Italy was analyzed for the period 1969–1987. The age-adjusted (to Italian 1981 population) death rates decreased slightly during these years for both sexes. The average national female/male ratio of the age-adjusted rates is 1.33 and shows a north-south gradient, with values <1 in the South-Islands area where multiple sclerosis cases are probably heavily underreported on the death certificates. A positive, significant correlation between the age-adjusted death rates and latitude of the 20 Italian regions exists for the period 1969–1975; in recent years (1981–1987), these parameters show a weaker, but not statistically significant positive correlation. Moreover, the 95% confidence intervals of the death rates in the 20 regions overlapped extensively in both periods studied (1969–1975 and 1981–1987). Death rates for multiple sclerosis are a weak index of the frequency of the disease and their utility is restricted to national surveys. The descriptive epidemiological data (incidence, prevalence, mortality) available at present in Italy do not seem to support a link between multiple sclerosis and

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110375

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We studied movement disorders (MD) in community residents of Saskatchewan aged ≧ 65 years. A representative sample of 70 individuals had detailed neurological evaluation. Those who had definite and possible MD at first examination had a second neurological assessment by a senior neurologist. The most prevalent MD was essential tremor (ET) (14%) followed by Parkinson''s disease (PD) (3%). The marked difference in prevalence ratios for PD and ET are attributed to: (a) higher incidence of ET in the general population; (b) a greater possibility that most, if not all, ET cases would reside in the community whereas a sizable proportion of elderly PD cases may be institutionalized, and (c) shortened survival in PD but a normal life expectancy in E

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110376

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Between 1992 and 2040, the United States nonwhite elderly population is expected to grow from 3.3 to 14.1 million. In order to assess the implications of this increase on the mortality from neurodegenerative diseases in the United States, we used Census Bureau population estimates to formulate projections of the annual number of deaths from neurodegenerative diseases and from six comparison conditions (liver cirrhosis, colon cancer, lung cancer, cancer of the female breast, multiple sclerosis, and malignant melanoma), assuming that the United States disease-age-gender-specific death rates for 1985–1988 remain constant between 1990 and 2040. We find that neurodegenerative disease mortality increases by 281–524%, depending on the model of population growth used. For the ''middle'' population growth model, the increase in annual neurodegenerative disease mortality is 373%. The major component of this increase is the rise in deaths attributed to dementia. For the six comparison diseases, the increases in mortality range from 130 (multiple sclerosis) to 288% (colon cancer). Given the current level of underascertainment of neurodegenerative disease mortality, particularly among minorities, and the conservative nature of the Census Bureau estimates of future population, it is likely that these projections are underestimates. The implications of these data are discus

ISSN:0251-5350    

DOI:10.1159/000110377

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger