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Dementia in Aboriginal people in Residential Aged Care Facilities in Alice Springs: A Descriptive Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2019

Bruce Hocking ,
Michael Lowe ,
Tricia Nagel ,
Caroline Phillips ,
Melissa Lindeman ,
Annie Farthing ,
Heather Jensen ,
Alan Cass  and
Kylie Dingwall
Bruce Hocking*
Affiliation:
Katherine West Health Board, Katherine, Australia
Michael Lowe
Affiliation:
NT Department of Health, c/o Royal Darwin Hospital, Tiwi, Australia
Tricia Nagel
Affiliation:
Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Australia
Caroline Phillips
Affiliation:
NT Department of Health, c/o Royal Darwin Hospital, Tiwi, Australia
Melissa Lindeman
Affiliation:
Flinders University, Alice Springs, Australia Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, Australia
Annie Farthing
Affiliation:
Centre of Remote Health, Alice Springs, Australia
Heather Jensen
Affiliation:
Centre of Remote Health, Alice Springs, Australia
Alan Cass
Affiliation:
School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Australia
Kylie Dingwall
Affiliation:
Menzies School of Health Research, Alice Springs, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: brucevhocking@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Background:

A high prevalence of dementia among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders has been reported but knowledge of underlying causes and associations remains limited.

Objective:

To identify the prevalence of factors that may be associated with the categories of Major neurocognitive disorders (Major NCDs) in Aboriginal people living in residential aged care facilities in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory (NT).

Design and Setting:

This descriptive cross-sectional study analysed clinical file and cognitive assessment data of participants who were identified as having cognitive impairment between January and June 2016.

Method:

Screening for the presence of cognitive impairment using the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA) was undertaken and 58 of 84 Aboriginal people were admitted to the study. Using a clinical file audit, diagnoses of Major NCDs consistent with the DSM-5 classification were made and the prevalence of factors possibly associated with these diagnoses described.

Results:

Fifty of the 58 participants were diagnosed with a Major NCD. The most frequent diagnoses were Major NCD due to vascular disease (30%), Major NCD due to Alzheimer’s Disease (26%) and Major NCD due to brain injury (20%). Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and alcohol misuse were commonly reported together with hypothyroidism, hypoglycaemia and vitamin D deficiency.

Conclusion(s):

This study identified possible associations with Major NCDs in this population as well as a different spread of Major NCD diagnoses to previous studies in Aboriginal populations. There is a need for further research to understand the causes of dementia in Australian Aboriginal people and to use this information to appropriately tailor treatment and prevention programmes.

Keywords

AustralianAboriginaldementianeurocognitive disorder
Type
Brief Report
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 20 , Special Issue 2: Brain Impairment in Indigenous Populations , September 2019 , pp. 171 - 179
Copyright
© Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment 2019 

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