Neurological disorders in the elderly at home.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Epidemiology
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Neurological disorders are a significant concern in aging populations.
• Understanding the prevalence of conditions like stroke and dementia is crucial for public health.
• Previous epidemiological data on neurological conditions in community-dwelling older adults may be limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of various neurological disorders in individuals aged 65 and over living in their own homes.
• To investigate the age- and sex-specific prevalence rates of stroke, transient cerebral ischemic attacks, and dementia.
• To assess the occurrence of Parkinsonism, essential tremor, and epilepsy in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted on random samples of 808 subjects aged 65 years or more.
• Participants were living in their own homes.
• Neurological history and physical examinations were performed to diagnose conditions.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of completed stroke was 73 per 1000, and transient cerebral ischemic attacks was 87 per 1000.
• Dementia prevalence was 43 per 1000 for those under 75 and 140 per 1000 for those 75 and over.
• Parkinsonism (16 per 1000), essential tremor (17 per 1000), and epilepsy (4 per 1000) were also documented, along with other neurological abnormalities.

Conclusions:

• Stroke and transient cerebral ischemic attacks show considerable prevalence in older adults, independent of age or sex.
• Dementia prevalence significantly increases with age, particularly after 75 years.
• The study provides essential epidemiological data on neurological disorders in community-dwelling elderly, informing healthcare planning and research.