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Updated: May 24, 2026

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

Understanding dementia prevalence among centenarians.

Leonard W Poon¹, John L Woodard, L Stephen Miller

¹Institute of Gerontology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. lpoon@uga.edu

The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences

|March 6, 2012

Summary

Nearly half of centenarians exhibit dementia symptoms, with prevalence varying by demographics. The Global Deterioration Scale effectively assesses cognitive decline in this population.

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Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

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Published on: December 18, 2016

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Neurology
Epidemiology

Background:

Centenarians represent a unique population for studying aging and dementia.
Understanding cognitive function and dementia prevalence in extreme longevity is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To validate the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) for centenarians.
To determine dementia prevalence in a centenarian cohort.
To analyze demographic factors influencing dementia prevalence estimates.

Main Methods:

A population-based sample of 244 centenarians was assessed.
Cognitive function and dementia stages were evaluated using the GDS.
Statistical analyses examined demographic variations and their impact on prevalence.

Main Results:

Approximately 25% of centenarians showed no memory deficits.
Another 25% exhibited transient confusion.
About 50% displayed dementia symptoms, with 15% in GDS stages 4-6 and 5% in stage 7.
Prevalence estimates were significantly influenced by age, gender, race, residence, and education.

Conclusions:

The GDS is a valid tool for assessing cognitive function in centenarians.
Dementia prevalence in centenarians is substantial but variable.
Demographic factors are critical considerations when estimating dementia prevalence in extreme aging populations.