Incidence of and Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Korean Elderly

• Published in: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders 2015-01, Vol.39 (1-2), p.105-115
• Main Authors: Bae, Jong Bin, Kim, You Joung, Han, Ji Won, Kim, Tae Hui, Park, Joon Hyuk, Lee, Seok Bum, Lee, Jung Jae, Jeong, Hyun Ghang, Kim, Jeong Lan, Jhoo, Jin Hyeong, Yoon, Jong Chul, Kim, Ki Woong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - epidemiology; Alzheimer's disease; Cognition disorders in old age; Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Diagnosis; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Incidence; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical examination; Original Research Article; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 1420-8008; 1421-9824
• DOI: 10.1159/000366555

Background/Aims: Knowledge of incidence rates and risk factors is essential for the development of strategies to treat patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A subpopulation of the Nationwide Survey on Dementia Epidemiology (460 Korean subjects aged ≥65 years from 2 rural and 2 urban districts) was followed up for 3.5 years. The age-specific incidence was estimated and risk factors were identified. Results: The age-standardized incidence of AD and MCI was 7.9 and 28.1 cases per 1,000 person-years, respectively. MCI was associated with a 6-fold increased risk of AD. Depression was a risk factor for AD with MCI. Age, lack of formal education, illiteracy, rural residence, and marital status were associated with the risk of AD. Conclusion: Strategies to control modifiable risk factors should be implemented to decrease the incidence of AD. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel