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Studies of the epidemiology of dementia: Comparisons between developed and developing countries

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Abstract

By the year 2025, 68% of the world’s population aged 65 and above, nearly 277 million people, will be residing in developing countries. The less industrialized nations have been the least studied to date, and may yield significant new information about the etiology and risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. Although it is readily apparent that cross- national and cross- cultural comparisons are desirable, these can be meaningful only if based on comparable methodology. In this work we will discuss some general conceptual and methodological issues regarding epidemiological studies of dementia in developing countries. The topics discussed include community- based screening for dementia, screening instruments and their application in cross- cultural studies, steps in standardization of new or modified neuropsychological tests, and some special considerations in studying uneducated/illiterate populations. (Aging Clin. Exp. Res. 6: 307- 321, 1994)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Ageing Research in India, New Delhi

    V. Chandra, R. Pandav & S. Sharma

  2. Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi

    V. Chandra

  3. Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    L. Nath

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, USA

    Mary Ganguli, G. Ratcliff, J. Gilby, C. Ryan & S. DeKosky

  5. Graduate School of Public Health, USA

    V. Chandra,  Mary Ganguli, S. Belle & E. Seaberg

  6. Office of Measurement and Evaluation, and School of Education, USA

    C. Baker

  7. School of Nursing, Pittsburgh

    S. Belle

  8. Harmarville Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    G. Ratcliff

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  1. V. Chandra
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Chandra, V., Ganguli, M., Ratcliff, G. et al. Studies of the epidemiology of dementia: Comparisons between developed and developing countries. Aging Clin Exp Res 6, 307–321 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324258

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