Prevalence and Risk Factors of Alzheimer s Disease in Elderly People, Kerman, Iran: A House Based Survey

Background: Population aging is occurring in almost every country in the world, resulting in reduced mortality, reduced fertility, and increased life expectancy. With an increase in the elderly population, chronic diseases related to aging, including Alzheimer s disease will also increase, which is a big problem for the health in society. Since early diagnosis can help a more effective treatment, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Alzheimer s disease and its risk factors in people aged 50 and above in Kerman, Iran. Methods: For sampling, a one-step random cluster method was used across 11 districts of Kerman for one year and a ten-item questionnaire provided by Alzheimer s World Association and MMSE was employed for data collection. Results: A total of 4,191 people were surveyed, of which 1,213 were 50 years of age or older. 1111 people had disorder at least one question in the MMSE ten-item questionnaire. 26 of these people were diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease after further investigation. Conclusion: The prevalence of Alzheimer s disease in Kerman was similar to that in the rest of the world. Many of the cases were over 80 years old and had serious illnesses. If they had been diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, their disease could be managed at a lower cost and more effectively.