Public Health

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited data exists on dementia and disability burden in Nepal's elderly population.
• This study addresses the gap by screening cognitive impairment and functional status in community-dwelling older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of dementia, functional impairment, and disability among elderly individuals in Nepal.
• To identify associated risk factors for dementia in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted in two wards of Dharan Sub Metropolitan City, Nepal.
• Utilized Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline (IQCODE), Brief Community Screening Instrument for dementia (CSI-D), Everyday Ability Scale (EASI), and Barthel Index.
• Data collected by trained nurses from December 2021 to March 2022.

Main Results:

• Dementia prevalence was 8.8% (Brief-CSID) and 10.7% (IQ-CODE) in 1009 participants (≥60 years).
• Risk factors included age ≥75, physical illness, hearing and visual impairments, mobility aid use, illiteracy, and homemaker occupation.
• Functional impairment (EASI ≥5) was 4.9%, and 19.5% had moderate disability (Barthel Index).

Conclusions:

• Dementia prevalence is high among older adults in Nepal, linked to various risk factors.
• Physical illness and sensory impairments represent potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia in this demographic.