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Dementia in Subjects Over 65 Years of Age in the Republic of San Marino

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. D'Alessandro ,
R. Gallassi ,
G. Benassi ,
A. Morreale  and
E. Lugaresi
R. D'Alessandro*
Affiliation:
Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna
R. Gallassi
Affiliation:
Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna
G. Benassi
Affiliation:
Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna
A. Morreale
Affiliation:
Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna
E. Lugaresi
Affiliation:
Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna
*
∗Clinica Neurologica, Via U. Foscolo 7, 40123 Bologna, Italy
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Abstract

A study on neurological conditions was performed in the Republic of San Marino, which is the smallest independent state in the world (60 km2, 21 792 people). We personally examined or collected information on all people born in 1898, 1903, 1908, 1913 and 1918 and living in the Republic of San Marino on 31 July 1985. We found 29 people out of 488 with mild to severe dementia. Frequency of dementia increased progressively with age, from 1.8% among 67-year-olds to 25% among 87-year-olds. In women the increase was due mainly to primary degenerative dementia, whereas in men other types of dementia were involved. Our study shows a female/male ratio of more than 2:1 for primary degenerative dementia even considering mild dementia, and this form of dementia represents about 50% of all types of dementia. We found an association between severe auditory loss and primary degenerative dementia.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 153 , Issue 2 , August 1988 , pp. 182 - 186
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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