Is dementia incidence declining?

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182553be6
• Publication Date: 2012-05-03T05:17:41Z
• Authors: E.M.C. Schrijvers; B.F.J. Verhaaren; P.J. Koudstaal; A. Hofman; M.A. Ikram; M.M.B. Breteler
• Keywords: Rate ratio; Rotterdam Study; Vascular dementia

To investigate whether dementia incidence has changed over the last 2 decades.We compared in independent subcohorts of persons aged 60-90 years from Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study. The first subcohort started 1990 (n = 5,727), second 2000 1,769). Participants were dementia-free at baseline and followed for maximum 5 years. We calculated age-adjusted rates total, 10-year age strata, men women separately. also mortality rates, differences prevalence vascular risk factors, medication use. Finally, we brain volumes extent cerebral small vessel disease participants who underwent imaging after examinations.In (25,696 person-years), 286 developed dementia, (8,384 49 persons. Age-adjusted consistently, yet nonsignificantly, lower all reaching borderline significance overall analysis (incidence rate ratio 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-1.02). Mortality (rate 0.63, CI 0.52-0.77). hypertension obesity significantly increased between 2000. This was paralleled by strong increase use antithrombotics lipid-lowering drugs. 2005-2006 had larger total (p < 0.001) less (although nonsignificant men) than 1995-1996.Although nonsignificant, our study suggests that decreased 2005.