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Trends in the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and cognitive impairment in the United States
Author(s) -
Rocca Walter A.,
Petersen Ronald C.,
Knopman David S.,
Hebert Liesi E.,
Evans Denis A.,
Hall Kathleen S.,
Gao Sujuan,
Unverzagt Frederick W.,
Langa Kenneth M.,
Larson Eric B.,
White Lon R.
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.1016/j.jalz.2010.11.002
Subject(s) - dementia , medicine , epidemiology , gerontology , diabetes mellitus , incidence (geometry) , disease , stroke (engine) , cohort , neuropsychology , cognitive decline , cognitive impairment , cohort study , optimism , cognition , demography , psychiatry , psychology , mechanical engineering , physics , engineering , sociology , optics , endocrinology , social psychology
Declines in heart disease and stroke mortality rates are conventionally attributed to reductions in cigarette smoking, recognition and treatment of hypertension and diabetes, effective medications to improve serum lipid levels and to reduce clot formation, and general lifestyle improvements. Recent evidence implicates these and other cerebrovascular factors in the development of a substantial proportion of dementia cases. Analyses were undertaken to determine whether corresponding declines in age‐specific prevalence and incidence rates for dementia and cognitive impairment have occurred in recent years. Data spanning 1 or 2 decades were examined from community‐based epidemiological studies in Minnesota, Illinois, and Indiana, and from the Health and Retirement Study, which is a national survey. Although some decline was observed in the Minnesota cohort, no statistically significant trends were apparent in the community studies. A significant reduction in cognitive impairment measured by neuropsychological testing was identified in the national survey. Cautious optimism appears justified.