DEMENTIA IN THE ELDERLY - RESULTS OF THE BERLIN AGING STUDY

The frequency of dementia in very old subjects, the risk factors and t he consequences of the disease were investigated in the Berlin Aging S tudy in an age- and gender-stratified design (ages 70-103 years, n=516 ). Psychiatrists diagnosed a dementia syndrome according to DSM-III-R, applying the GMS-A and HAS interviews. The dementia frequency steeply increases until the 90-94 year group, but there is no further exponent ial increase for the 95+ group - instead for men the data show a plate au of dementia prevalence. Low education level turned out to be a risk factor,which explains the gender effect in a logistic regression anal ysis. The apolipoprotein E4 genotype was confirmed as a risk factor - however, only for the older subjects (85+). Dementia was a major reaso n for institutionlization. The 2-year mortality was no higher in demen tia than for age-matched non-demented controls. The results gave a det ailed picture of dementia in the very old. This is a prerequisite for planning facilities for psychiatric diagnostics and therapy as well as nursing care.