Original Paper

Prevalence of Dementia in the United States: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study
B.L. Plassman^a, K.M. Langa^{c, d, e}, G.G. Fisher^d, S.G. Heeringa^d, D.R. Weir^d, M.B. Ofstedal^d, J.R. Burke^b, M.D. Hurd^f, G.G. Potter^a, W.L. Rodgers^d, D.C. Steffens^a, R.J. Willis^d, R.B. Wallace^g

Departments of
^aPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and
^bMedicine (Neurology), Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.,
^cDivision of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, and
^dInstitute for Social Research, University of Michigan, and
^eVeterans Affairs Center for Practice Management and Outcomes Research, Ann Arbor, Mich.,
^fRAND, Santa Monica, Calif., and
^gColleges of Public Health and Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuroepidemiology 2007;29:125-132 (DOI: 10.1159/000109998)

  Key Words

• Dementia
• Aging
• Epidemiology
• Population-based research

  Abstract

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias in the USA using a nationally representative sample. Methods: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study sample was composed of 856 individuals aged 71 years and older from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS) who were evaluated for dementia using a comprehensive in-home assessment. An expert consensus panel used this information to assign a diagnosis of normal cognition, cognitive impairment but not demented, or dementia (and dementia subtype). Using sampling weights derived from the HRS, we estimated the national prevalence of dementia, AD and vascular dementia by age and gender. Results: The prevalence of dementia among individuals aged 71 and older was 13.9%, comprising about 3.4 million individuals in the USA in 2002. The corresponding values for AD were 9.7% and 2.4 million individuals. Dementia prevalence increased with age, from 5.0% of those aged 71-79 years to 37.4% of those aged 90 and older. Conclusions: Dementia prevalence estimates from this first nationally representative population-based study of dementia in the USA to include subjects from all regions of the country can provide essential information for effective planning for the impending healthcare needs of the large and increasing number of individuals at risk for dementia as our population ages.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Brenda Plassman, PhD
905 W. Main Street, Ste 25-D, Box 41
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC 27701 (USA)
Tel. +1 919 682 6722, Fax +1 919 687 0424, E-Mail brenda.plassman@duke.edu

  Article Information

Published online: October 29, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 49