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Dementia prevalence in Torres Strait communities
Author(s) -
Strivens Edward,
Russell Sarah G,
Quigley Rachel,
Sagigi Betty,
Miller Gavin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.039634
Subject(s) - dementia , medicine , indigenous , stroke (engine) , disease , population , gerontology , pacific islanders , demography , environmental health , mechanical engineering , ecology , sociology , engineering , biology
Abstract Background Dementia prevalence in Aboriginal communities is amongst the highest in the world, with rates up to three to five times higher than the wider Australian community being reported. Risk factors identified included age, male gender, lack of formal education, smoking, stroke, epilepsy, head injury, poor mobility, falls, and incontinence. However, Australia has two culturally distinct Indigenous populations, and it is not known if Torres Strait Islander peoples, who comprise 10% of all Indigenous Australians, share this increased risk of dementia. The aim of this study was to assess dementia prevalence in the Torres Strait and investigate factors associated with dementia risk. Method A total of 322 residents living in the Torres Strait in Far North Queensland (94% Indigenous) participated in a comprehensive diagnostic Geriatrician assessment. Mean age of the sample was 64.58 ( SD 11.2, range 41‐93) and 37.3% were male. All had some formal education (30.6% primary school only). Using consensus diagnosis, participants were diagnosed with dementia, cognitive impairment no dementia or normal cognition according to DSM IV criteria. Results Consistent with findings in Aboriginal communities, the prevalence of dementia in the sample was 2.94 times higher than the wider Australian population. Over 14% of the sample were diagnosed with dementia and a further 21% with Cognitive Impairment No Dementia. Preliminary results showed that age, education, hypertension, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, previous stroke, falls risk and pain were associated with dementia in this sample. Conclusion Torres Strait Islander peoples share an increased risk of dementia seen in Aboriginal Australians compared to the wider community but have a distinct pattern of risk factors. This highlights the need for tailored interventions to address this increased dementia risk for different Indigenous communities.