Identifying risk for dementia across populations: A study on the prevalence of dementia in tribal elderly population of Himalayan region in Northern India

Abstract

Introduction:Studies have suggested that dementia is differentially distributed across populations with a lower prevalence in developing regions than the developed ones. A comparison in the prevalence of dementia across populations may provide an insight into its risk factors. Keeping this in view, a study was planned to evaluate the prevalence of dementia in tribal elderly population.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional comprehensive two-phase survey of all residents aged 60 years and older was conducted. Phase one involved screening of all individuals aged 60 and above with the help of a cognitive screen specifically developed for the tribal population. Phase two involved clinical examination of individuals who were suspected of dementia as per the developed cognitive screening test.Results:The results revealed that no individual above 60 years of age in the studied population was diagnosed as a case of dementia. Thereby, pointing out at some unknown factors, which are responsible for prevention of dementia.Discussion:The differences between the prevalence rate in this study and other studies in India appear to be a function of a valid regional difference. Environmental, phenotypic and genetic factors may contribute to regional and racial variations in dementia. Societies living in isolated hilly and tribal areas seem less predisposed to dementia, particularly age related neurodegenerative and vascular dementia, which are the most common causes for dementia in elderly. This may be because some environmental risk factors are much less prevalent in these settings.

Level of literacy and dementia: A secondary post-hoc analysis from North-West India

“…The current study was aimed at investigating the influence of level of literacy on dementia in a sample stratified by geography (Migrant, Urban, Rural and Tribal areas of sub-Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, India). This study extends our previous works [5][6][7] in Himachal Pradesh by examining the influence of literacy, post-hoc, on dementia. The study was based on the hypothesis that level of literacy does not influence dementia.…”

Relationship Between Loneliness, Psychiatric Disorders and Physical Health ? A Review on the Psychological Aspects of Loneliness

“…Various risk factors have been identified in the causation of AD in India. However, to the best of the knowledge of the author, there are no studies which assesses relationship of loneliness with AD [20].…”

“…Recently, there has been extensive research on psychosocial effects of stress on neuroendocrine and immune systems. Whether loneliness qualifies as stress may be debatable [2,20,28]. However there is ample data, which gives evidence of immune system getting involved in loneliness.…”

“…As greater daytime dysfunction is a marker of poor sleep quality, loneliness has been found associated with greater day time dysfunction. Numerous studies have demonstrated greater daytime dysfunction accompanied by more nightly micro-awakenings with loneliness, thus demonstrating a role of loneliness with poor sleep quality [20].…”

Molecular analysis of α-synuclein gene in Parkinson′s disease in North Karnataka, India

“…[3,4] The alarming rise in the prevalence of PD in India has been attributed to the demographic pattern, changing environment, as well as lifestyle, [5] but some studies conducted in India reported that prevalence of PD in Indian population is lower compared with the western population. [6][7][8][9] In Karnataka, the prevalence of PD is reported to be 7 per 100,000. [10] In the later studies, the prevalence of PD above 50 years of age was 134 per 100,000.…”