An overview on assessment tests for alzheimer’s disease in Mexico. The national dementia survey: a study from the mexican group of specialists in dementias.

Objective: To know the current status of the clinical assessment tests used to evaluate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and memory-related dementias in specific regions throughout Mexico. Design, patients and settings: Patients with objective memory impairment were subjected to a clinical survey in medical...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Ramírez Díaz, S. P., Albert Meza, Guillermo, Albrecht Junghanns, R. E., Zúñiga Gil, I.Clemente, Bedia Reyes, María de los Auxilios Rafaela, Barba Valadez, Leonardo Alberto, Almanza Huante, Emmanuel, Mexican Group of Specialists in Dementias, Cruz Alcalá, Leonardo Eleazar
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2015
Country:México
Institution:Universidad de Guadalajara
Repository:Repositorio UDG CUALTOS
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.cualtos.udg.mx:123456789/244
Online Access:http://148.202.112.11:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/244
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:dementia
Alzheimer disease
mild cognitive impairment
Description
Summary:Objective: To know the current status of the clinical assessment tests used to evaluate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and memory-related dementias in specific regions throughout Mexico. Design, patients and settings: Patients with objective memory impairment were subjected to a clinical survey in medical centers specializing in memory loss. Each patient’s consultation was conducted like a routine clinical practice. Patient’s data were recorded using an anonymous patient survey. The most prominent behavioral problems were recorded. Results: 1350 patients were tested, 65.19% female (n=880). Out of 1350 patients, 76.59% (n=1034) had been previously diagnosed with any kind of dementia. The most common diagnosis concerning cognitive impairment was AD (54.2%, n=560) and Vascular Dementia (VaD, 19.7%, n=204). Minimental State Examination (MMSE) was performed in all patients and the average score was of 18±7. Katz scale for Activities of Daily Living (ADL) was performed in 49.41% (n=667) of patients, Lawton and Brody scale for Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in 35.78% (n=483), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-Yesavage) in 32.89% (n=444). The most prominent behavioral symptom was apathy (12.15%, n=164).The most frequent concomitant diseases were: high blood pressure in 52.3%, diabetes in 27.0% and Dyslipidemia in 23.4%. Conclusions: Through the assessment of clinical surveys throughout Mexico, it was found that the most common form of dementia is AD and it is followed by VaD. Commonly, the Katz, Lawton and Brody, and the GDS-Yesavage scales are clinical assessment tests that are the most commonly used. There are many differences in the use of tests to evaluate patients with dementia across Mexico. For the first time, we were able to identify tendencies in the assessment of dementias by Mexican physicians.