Epidemiology of post-stroke dementia

Twenty to 25% of stroke patients are demented after stroke, which makes str oke an important risk factor for dementia, However, the diagnosis of dement ia is difficult and depends heavily on methodology. In this review, we desc ribe pitfalls of diagnosis, the prevalence and incidence of dementia after stroke based on data from prospectively studied stroke cohorts, and the ris k factors for post-stroke dementia that emerged from these studies. Finally , the course and prognosis of post-stroke dementia are described.