Memory loss for many falls short of dementia
BY STEVEN REINBERG • HEALTHDAY • March 18, 2008
More than one-fifth of Americans over 70 years old have some memory impairment that isn't classified as dementia, a new study finds.
While an estimated 3.5 million Americans suffer from dementia, another 5.4 million over 70 have some memory loss that affects their lifestyle but isn't severe enough to limit their ability to function normally, the study authors said.
"An estimated 22% of individuals over age 70 have some type of cognitive impairment that does not reach the threshold of dementia," said lead researcher Brenda Plassman, an associate research professor of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine.
The findings are published in the March 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
For the study, Plassman's team collected data on 856 people 71 years old and older. The participants completed a neuropsychological exam, and close family members were asked about their relatives' memory and ability to do daily activities. The participants were followed from July 2001 through March 2005.
The researchers found that 22% of the participants had some form of memory loss that didn't reach the threshold for dementia. Among these people, about a quarter had chronic health problems such as diabetes or heart disease that may have been the cause of their cognitive impairment.
"The people with cognitive impairment without dementia were at higher risk of progressing to dementia within a year or so," Plassman said.
"However, during the same time period, about 20% reverted back to normal cognition," Plassman said. "That's important, because these numbers are rather startling, and we don't want to give the impression that there's not hope out there," she added.
More than one-fifth of Americans over 70 years old have some memory impairment that isn't classified as dementia, a new study finds.
While an estimated 3.5 million Americans suffer from dementia, another 5.4 million over 70 have some memory loss that affects their lifestyle but isn't severe enough to limit their ability to function normally, the study authors said.
"An estimated 22% of individuals over age 70 have some type of cognitive impairment that does not reach the threshold of dementia," said lead researcher Brenda Plassman, an associate research professor of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine.
The findings are published in the March 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
For the study, Plassman's team collected data on 856 people 71 years old and older. The participants completed a neuropsychological exam, and close family members were asked about their relatives' memory and ability to do daily activities. The participants were followed from July 2001 through March 2005.
The researchers found that 22% of the participants had some form of memory loss that didn't reach the threshold for dementia. Among these people, about a quarter had chronic health problems such as diabetes or heart disease that may have been the cause of their cognitive impairment.
"The people with cognitive impairment without dementia were at higher risk of progressing to dementia within a year or so," Plassman said.
"However, during the same time period, about 20% reverted back to normal cognition," Plassman said. "That's important, because these numbers are rather startling, and we don't want to give the impression that there's not hope out there," she added.
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