Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
Prevalence estimation of dementia among Thai elderly: a national survey
S Jitapunkul1, C Kunanusont, W Phoolcharoen
1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of dementia and its associated factors among Thai elderly.
Design:
A one-stage cross-sectional national survey.
Setting:
National communities in Thailand.
Subjects:
4,048 elderly subjects aged 60 and above.
Results:
There were 668 (16.5%) elderly with a CMT score below 15. Among these elderly, 132 were dependent as to certain aspects of self-care. According to the definition of dementia used in this one-stage survey design (i.e. subjects with a low CMT score and self-care dependence), 3.3 per cent of Thai elderly (95% confidence interval = 2.7-3.8) were classified as having dementia. After adjusting to geographic and municipal area, the prevalence rate was 3.4 per cent (95% confidence interval = 2.8-4). Age-specific prevalence rate increased dramatically from 1.0 per cent in the 60-64 age-group to 31.3 per cent in the 90+ age-group. The prevalence rate of dementia among Thai elderly found in this study did not differ from the prevalence rates among the elderly in other Asian and developed countries. Using a logistic regression analysis, 3 independent factors associated with dementia were age, literacy (writing) and geographic area.
Conclusion:
With a one-stage survey design for determining the prevalence of dementia, the prevalence rate and age-specific prevalence rate among the Thai elderly did not differ from those found in other Asian and developed countries.
Related Concept Videos
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Dementia l: Introduction

