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Subtypes of dementia: a study from a memory clinic in India
Suvarna Alladi1, Shailaja Mekala, Santhoshi Kumari Chadalawada
1Department of Neurology, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad 500082, India. alladisuvarna@hotmail.com
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
|August 12, 2011
Summary
In India, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia are common subtypes. This study highlights a younger age of onset for dementia patients compared to developed nations.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Dementia presents with diverse subtypes, varying in cause, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis.
- India faces a scarcity of specialized dementia care services.
- This study profiles dementia subtypes from a dedicated clinic registry in India.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the subtypes of dementia in an Indian clinic-based population.
- To compare the demographic and clinical features of dementia in India with those in developed countries.
Main Methods:
- A registry of consecutive dementia patients was established.
- Patients underwent clinical assessment, locally adapted neuropsychological testing, and brain imaging.
Main Results:
- Alzheimer's disease (38.3%) and vascular dementia (25.4%) were the most prevalent subtypes.
- Frontotemporal dementia syndromes (18.7%) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (8.9%) were also observed.
- The average age of presentation was 66.3 years, with a high rate of early-onset dementia (49.9%).
Conclusions:
- Dementia subtype profiles in India are shaped by demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and cultural perceptions.
- The younger age of onset suggests unique etiological or environmental influences in the Indian population.
- Further research is needed to understand the specific factors driving these differences in dementia presentation.
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