[Dementia is not the only mental problem among the elderly. Long-term perspective is important for care]

The entire 1902 and 1903 birthyear cohorts in the catchment area of Dalby Community Health Centre in southern Sweden have been followed with health examinations and interviews every second year since 1969-70. Of the total of 192 subjects, complete data are available for 153. Of 65 subjects surviving at the age of 83, 6 per cent were advanced dementia cases, 11 per cent were in the early stages of dementia, and a further 17 per cent were afflicted with other mental problems requiring help and care. Of those who died before the age of 83, 11 per cent were afflicted with dementia, with a further 4 per cent in the early stages, and 17 per cent had other mental problems. Thus, the overall risk of dementia is at least 16 per cent, but may eventually turn out to be as high as 30 per cent, while those with other forms of mental dysfunction, serious enough to require help in ADL, account for a similar proportion. The annual incidence of dementia is 7.5 per mill (10.6 per mill including those in early stages). The risk of institutionalisation and death was much higher among the dementia victims, most of whom had had little support from the social services, and some none at all, before being institutionalised. Dementia victims came into contact with the medical services much earlier than did mentally healthy patients with other, often vague and more varied symptoms. It is argued in the article that current concern with dementia should not be allowed to divert our attention from the needs, diagnosis and care of the many elderly patients with other mental problems.