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FTS3‐02‐03: TERTIARY PREVENTION IN DEMENTIA: CHALLENGES OF A NATIONAL PLAN IN AN UNEQUAL COUNTRY — THE CASE OF CHILE
Author(s) -
Slachevsky Andrea
Publication year - 2018
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.2018.06.3037
Subject(s) - dementia , socioeconomic status , medicine , gerontology , indirect costs , public health , disease , environmental health , population , nursing , business , accounting , pathology
Background:Epidemiological data from Latin America countries have showed a higher prevalence of dementia in a younger age. Some factors are associated with these findings, mainly low educational level. Methods:We have reviewed epidemiological studies and pathological data, as well, to demonstrate the main causes of dementia in a developing country like Brazil, and challenges associated with investigation and diagnosis of these conditions. Results:Low schooling together with low socioeconomic level is also associated with inadequate control of diseases linked to vascular lesions. Although clinical studies conducted in Latin America have found that Alzheimer’s disease was the leading cause of dementia, more recent neuropathological studies have shown that cerebrovascular disease, especially small vessel disease is also very common. It is of particular interest in public health as a preventable cause of cognitive impairment. Conclusions: Challenges in developing countries are an early diagnosis, appropriate instruments to evaluate congnition in low educational level subjects, limited access to medical care and lack of instruction/education of general practioners in early diagnosis.