Prevalence of Alzheimer dementia in upper Egypt (Desert areas)

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the commonest type of Dementia worldwide. It rapidly increases with aging especially over 70 years. Objectives: The aims of this study are to determine the prevalence of AD in Egyptian desert areas and to identify the risk factors and presenting symptoms. Methods: This study was carried out on desert areas Al Kharga district and Al Quseir city. All population aged 50 years and more (12,508) were included through door to door survey by seven Neuropsychiatrists. They were screened by standardized questionnaire prepared specifically. Positive cases were invited to attend Assiut Univ. Hospital where clinical evaluation, according to DSM-IV R. and necessary psychometric tests were applied. Results: One hundred twenty-six patients with AD were diagnosed out of 12,508 people aged 50 years; yielding a prevalence of 1%. Prevalence increases with age, from 0.34% for those aged 60 ≤ 70 years to 2.9% for subjects aged 70 ≤ 80 years, and 9.74% for those aged 80 years and more. AD is more common among females than males in all ages. Eighty-five percent of diagnosed patients are of mild and moderate degrees. Hypertension (14.3%), smoking (10.3%), diabetes (8.73%), prior epilepsy (5.6%), and family history of AD (3.5%) are common risk factors. Impaired self-care (88.1%), memory loss (84.1%), impaired social judgment (77%), agnosia (58.7%), and behavioral changes (48.4%) are the most frequently encountered symptoms of AD. Conclusion: Prevalence of AD was 1% for population aged 50 years and more, reaching 9.7 for patients aged > 80 years. Early onset AD (< 65 years) was recorded in 7.9%.