Clinical aspects of dementia cases diagnosed at the Memory Clinic of the National Geriatric and Gerontology Hospital

Abstract

Background: Dementia is an increasingly prevalent clinical entity in the medical field, whose incidence increases with age. The purpose of this study is to identify the main types of dementia treated in a memory-disorders unit.Methodology: A consecutive and standardized register of patients diagnosed with dementia at the Memory Disorders Unit of the National Geriatrics and Gerontology Hospital.

Results: 1659 cases were evaluated, 65.8% met criteria for dementia. 42.9% of the cases were Alzheimer's disease, 28.5% secondary vascular dementia pathology, mixed forms represented 17.1% and 11.5% were diverse types. The mean age was 79.6 + 6.7 years and 66.2% were women. Average schooling was 4.95+ 4.09 years, 41.7% were married, 47.3% had a child as a caregiver, the average time between onset of symptoms and the clinical diagnosis was 3.18 + 2.6 years. The mean Minimental test score was 18.35 + 5.9 points, in the clock drawing test it was 3.4 + 2.5 and the Clinical Dementia Rating was 1.7 + 0.7; 45.2% of cases were CDR 1. 24% of cases had a family history of dementia and 95.7% had one or more cardiovascular risk factors, with AHT being the most common in 70.2%. 27.1% of dementia cases were mild, 31.9% moderate, 39.3% moderate-severe and 1.7% were severe. 90% of patients had one or more neurobehavioral disorders.Conclusions: The determination of the main types of dementia in the elderly population and their main features has allowed the registry of abundant information that was unknown and that will be useful for the management and strategic planning of public health care.