Dementia prevalance and subgrups of dementia in 65 years and over population in the central distinct of Elaziğ

Dementia is a chronic progressive disorder that may result in loss of function in many areas of cognitive and non-cognitive as a result of primary or secondary effects of the central nervous system for multifactorial reasons. Disturbances are seen in many areas such as learning, language, memory, reasoning, perception, orientation and attention, which are accepted as sub-determinants of cognition. The frequency of dementia is reported to be around 5-15% in epidemiological studies. The aim of the study was to establish the second sample of the prevalence of dementia in the population aged 65 years and over in Elazığ province and to see the change in the prevalence of dementia and its subgroups in the intervening period. And to investigate the effects of factors such as age, gender, educational status on dementia and its subgroups. This research was carried out by Fırat University Faculty of Medicine Department of Psychiatry between March 2018 and March 2019. The study group consisted of 273 people aged 65 years and over who belong to Abdullahpaşa Family Health Center in Elazığ. Sociodemographic data form was filled and MMSE test was applied to the study group. In the second stage, detailed examination and necessary tests were applied to the patients who were below 24 points according to minimental state eamination (MMSE). According to DSM-V diagnostic criteria, 23 people were diagnosed with dementia. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney-U tests were used for the statistical analysis of the data. Dementia was detected in 23 out of 273 MMSE patients and the dementia population in the study group was calculated as 8,3%. 66% of patients diagnosed with dementia were considered Alzheimer's disease. The prevalence of dementia was 14,3% in women and 3,9% in men, and the gender difference was statistically significant As a result, the frequency of dementia and distribution of the subgroups were largely consistent with the literature data. The fact that most of the diagnosed cases did not apply because of their complaints previously suggested that awareness of dementia should be increased further. Key words: Dementia, prevalance, dementia subgroups.