Artigo de Periódico
Risk factors for dementia in a rural area of northeastern Brazil
Autor
Magalhães, Manuela Oliveira de Cerqueira
Peixoto, Josecy Maria de Souza
Frank, Mônica Hupsel
Gomes, Irênio
Rodrigues, Bernardo Mota
Menezes, Carla
Cardoso, Eduardo
Carvalho, Fernando
Aras Júnior, Roque
Melo, Ailton de Souza
Magalhães, Manuela Oliveira de Cerqueira
Peixoto, Josecy Maria de Souza
Frank, Mônica Hupsel
Gomes, Irênio
Rodrigues, Bernardo Mota
Menezes, Carla
Cardoso, Eduardo
Carvalho, Fernando
Aras Júnior, Roque
Melo, Ailton de Souza
Institución
Resumen
Objective: To identify risk factors for dementia among the elderly in a rural area of Northeastern Brazil. Method: The subjects assessed were all 60 years old or older, and lived in a rural region of Bahia, a Northeastern State of Brazil. CAMDEX, a structured clinical evaluation protocol, was used for diagnosis, and applied at the home of the subjects. Results: The risk factors identified were divided in accordance with socio-demographic characteristics, the presence of co-morbid conditions, and the use of medications. The variables with strong association with dementia were age, history of stroke, arterial hypertension, and sight impairment. Conclusion: Advanced age, arterial hypertension, and vascular brain injury were the main risk factors associated with dementia, which suggests that public health measures adopted to prevent and control modifiable risk factors can mitigate the prevalence of high rates of dementia.