Dementia Prevalence in Greece: The Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD). Issue 3 (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kosmidis, Mary H.; Vlachos, George S.; Anastasiou, Costas A.; Yannakoulia, Mary; Dardiotis, Efthimios; Hadjigeorgiou, Georgios; Sakka, Paraskevi; Ntanasi, Eva; Scarmeas, Nikolaos
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. Volume 32:Issue 3(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: dementia -- prevalence -- subtypes -- Alzheimer disease -- Greece -- Southern Europe; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; 616.8305
• DOI: 10.1097/WAD.0000000000000249
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0893-0341

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Study of the epidemiology of dementia to gain insight into putative predisposing and prophylactic factors is the first step toward establishing effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for this ever-growing public health problem. Relevant data in Greece are scattered and outdated. Methods: We investigated dementia prevalence as part of a population-representative epidemiological study [Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD)] in 2 Greek regions. Results: Our sample comprised 1792 adults 65 years of age or older, who received a full neurological and neuropsychological evaluation that led to a consensus diagnosis. The overall prevalence of dementia was 5.0%, with 75.3% of the cases attributed to Alzheimer disease. Dementia odds were 15.8% higher for every year of advancing age and 9.4% lower for every additional year of education. Carrying at least 1 APOE-ε4 allele doubled the risk of dementia, whereas sex did not exert a statistically significant effect. Conclusions: Our results are consistent with previous research in Southern European countries; dementia prevalence in Greece is in the lower range of what has been reported globally.