Epidemiology of Cognitive Impairments: Demographic and Clinical Predictors of Memory and Attention...

Background: Cognitive difficulties involving memory and concentration significantly affect individuals' daily functioning and quality of life, influenced by demographic, clinical, and socio-environmental factors. This study aimed to examine the national prevalence and distribution of cognitive difficulties in Saudi Arabia, explore regional and gender disparities, and identify demographic and clinical predictors. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2017 Saudi National Disability Survey, a population-based, cross-sectional study involving 20.4 million Saudi citizens. Twelve indicators related to cognitive difficulty-covering severity, educational and marital status, consanguinity, duration, causes, and regional distribution-were analyzed, integrating baseline population data from three national surveys. Results: Results indicated that 1.1% (224,408 individuals) reported cognitive difficulties, predominantly alongside other disabilities (1.0%), while only 0.2% reported it exclusively. Cognitive difficulties were significantly higher in Al-Riyadh and Makkah Al-Mokarramah, with residents of Aseer and Hail facing doubled odds compared to Najran. Gender disparities were evident; males predominated in extreme severity and congenital or accident-related cases, whereas females showed higher proportions of disease-related causes, mild severity, and prolonged disability (≥25 years). Independent predictors included severe and extreme severity, disease-related causes, consanguinity, and long duration. Conclusions: These findings highlight critical regional and gender-based inequities and underscore the need for targeted policies emphasizing early detection, gender-sensitive interventions, and region-specific resource allocation to meet Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives for inclusive health and social services.