2112/2012 - OVERVIEW OF DEMENTIA IN BRAZIL: A DEMOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE
PANORAMA PROSPECTIVO DAS DEMÊNCIAS NO BRASIL: UM ENFOQUE DEMOGRÁFICO
Publicado
Author:
• CLAUDIA BURLÁ - Burlá, C. - RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ - FACULDADE DE MEDICINA DA UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO - <cburla@terra.com.br>Co-author(s):
• Ana Amélia Camarano - Camarano, A.A. - Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA) - <ana.camarano@ipea.gov.br>ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4905-0490
• SOLANGE KANSO - Kanso, S. - Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA) - <solange.kanso@ipea.gov.br>
• DANIELE FERNANDES - Fernandes, D. - Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA) - <daniele.fernandes@ipea.gov.br>
• RUI NUNES - Nunes, R. - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto - <ruinunes@med.up.pt >
Thematic Area:
Saúde do IdosoAbstract:
A marked increase of the Brazilian elderly population is to be expected over the next few years. It is proper of this population to present a high prevalence of chronic diseases that compromise their self-determination and autonomy. One can mention dementia syndromes as an example.The aim of this paper is to develop projections of the number of demented older individuals. An estimate of the current number is made by applying age-related prevalence measures to the population of 65 and over, by age-group, with the figures from the 2010 Brazilian Demographic Census. The measures were obtained from assessments found in the literature. For a national measure, a weighted average of the prevalences found was used. Prevalence rates by age and gender were calculated for the Brazilian older population. Current investigations show a steep raise of dementia with age. Women and illiterate individuals present a higher prevalence. The mean prevalence in Brazil is higher than the world’s.
Forecasts for the Brazilian population point to a small increase of dementia prevalence in the 65+ age-group, from 7.6% to 7.9% between 2010 and 2020, which means 55,000 new cases a year.
Dementia is a public health problem, and there is a strong bioethical concern with aging: the loss of autonomy of the affected individuals and the responsibility of the health system to provide proper care.
