Prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in indigenous Bolivian forager‐horticulturalists. Issue 1 (9th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gatz, Margaret; Mack, Wendy J.; Chui, Helena C.; Law, E. Meng; Barisano, Giuseppe; Sutherland, M. Linda; Sutherland, James D.; Eid Rodriguez, Daniel; Quispe Gutierrez, Raul; Copajira Adrian, Juan; Bani Cuata, Jesus; Borenstein, Amy R.; Walters, Ellen E.; Irimia, Andrei; Rowan, Christopher J.; Wann, L. Samuel; Allam, Adel H.; Thompson, Randall C.; Miyamoto, Michael I.; Michalik, David E.; Cummings, Daniel K.; Seabright, Edmond; Garcia, Angela R.; Hooper, Paul L.; Kraft, Thomas S.; Finch, Caleb E.; Thomas, Gregory S.; Stieglitz, Jonathan; Trumble, Benjamin C.; Gurven, Michael D.; Kaplan, Hillard;
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 19:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 55
• Publication Date: 2022-03-09
• Subjects: cognitive dysfunction -- dementia -- mental status and dementia tests -- Moseten -- Tsimane; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.12626
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: We evaluated the prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in indigenous Tsimane and Moseten, who lead a subsistence lifestyle. Methods: Participants from population‐based samples ≥ 60 years of age ( n = 623) were assessed using adapted versions of the Modified Mini‐Mental State Examination, informant interview, longitudinal cognitive testing and brain computed tomography (CT) scans. Results: Tsimane exhibited five cases of dementia (among n = 435; crude prevalence = 1.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.4, 2.7); Moseten exhibited one case (among n = 169; crude prevalence = 0.6%, 95% CI: 0.0, 3.2), all age ≥ 80 years. Age‐standardized MCI prevalence was 7.7% (95% CI: 5.2, 10.3) in Tsimane and 9.8% (95% CI: 4.9, 14.6) in Moseten. Cognitive impairment was associated with visuospatial impairments, parkinsonian symptoms, and vascular calcification in the basal ganglia. Discussion: The prevalence of dementia in this cohort is among the lowest in the world. Widespread intracranial medial arterial calcifications suggest a previously unrecognized, non‐Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia phenotype.