The risk of developing senile dementia is reduced
Swedish researchers from the Karolinska Institute and the University of Stockholm have found that, contrary to popular belief, the risk of developing senile dementia has decreased over the past two decades. They came to this conclusion based on the results of an analysis of data collected within the framework of the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), conducted since 1987, devoted to the study of the health status of elderly people.
Dementia is a complex of symptoms characterized by impaired memory and other cognitive functions. Among people over the age of 75, dementia is a very common problem, the main causes of which are Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. To date, more than 3,000 people aged 75 and older living in Stockholm have already participated in the SNAC-K study. 523 participants were diagnosed with some form of dementia.
The results of monitoring the health status of participants for 20 years showed that the incidence of dementia remained stable for both men and women over the age of 75, despite the fact that the life expectancy of patients with dementia has increased significantly since the late 80s. This means that, thanks to preventive measures and improving the quality of treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system, in general, the risk of developing senile dementia has decreased over the specified period.
According to the head of the study, Professor Laura Fratiglioni, reducing the risk of developing senile dementia is a positive phenomenon, but it is important to remember that the number of people with this disease will continue to increase due to an increase in average life expectancy and the absolute number of people over the age of 75. This means that the social burden of senile dementia and the need for medical and social services will also increase. Unfortunately, today senile dementia is incurable, so the only way out of the situation is to improve preventive measures and medical care in this area.
Article by C. Qiu et al. Twenty-year changes in dementia occurrence suggest decreasing incident in central Stockholm, Sweden published in the journal Neurology.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Karolinska Institutet:
Swedish study suggests reduced risk of dementia.
22.04.2013