Prevalence of dementia in urban and regional Aboriginal Australians

Kylie Radford; Holly A Mack; Brian Draper; Simon Chalkley; Gail Daylight; Robert Cumming; Hayley Bennett; Kim Delbaere; Gerald A Broe

doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.03.007

Prevalence of dementia in urban and regional Aboriginal Australians

Alzheimers Dement. 2015 Mar;11(3):271-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.03.007. Epub 2014 Jun 28.

Authors

Kylie Radford¹, Holly A Mack², Brian Draper³, Simon Chalkley⁴, Gail Daylight⁵, Robert Cumming⁶, Hayley Bennett², Kim Delbaere⁷, Gerald A Broe⁸

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; Ageing Research Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: k.radford@neura.edu.au.
² Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.
³ Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; Academic Department for Old Age Psychiatry, Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Aboriginal Strategy & Consultation Unit, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁷ Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁸ Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia; Ageing Research Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Geriatric Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 24985534
DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2014.03.007

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dementia in collaboration with urban/regional Aboriginal communities.

Methods: A census of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women aged 60 years and above in the target communities identified 546 potential participants, with 336 (61.5%) participating in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed a structured interview and cognitive screening tests. One hundred fifty-three participants also completed a detailed medical assessment. Assessment data were reviewed by a panel of clinicians who determined a diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) according to standard criteria.

Results: Crude prevalence of dementia was 13.4%, and age-standardized prevalence was 21.0%. The most common types of dementia were Alzheimer's dementia (44%) and mixed dementia diagnoses (29%). Estimated prevalence of MCI was 17.7%.

Conclusion: Consistent with previous findings in a remote population, urban and regional Aboriginal Australians face high rates of dementia at younger ages, most commonly Alzheimer's dementia.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Epidemiology of dementia; Indigenous population; Mild cognitive impairment; Vascular dementia.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Australia / epidemiology
Cognitive Dysfunction / ethnology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dementia / ethnology*
Female
Humans
Interview, Psychological
Male
Middle Aged
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander*
Prevalence
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Urban Population