Dementia epidemiology

Dementia has become one of the leading public health concerns in our society. Epidemiology has played a central role in identifying the risk factors and potential causes of many acute illnesses, while clinical medicine has provided new and more effective treatments. Our success in preventing and controlling the acute diseases that strike between childhood and early middle age has led to greater longevity and the aging of the population. In the developed world chronic diseases including dementia are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. At least six to ten percent of persons in the United States aged 65 or older may suffer from some form of dementia. There is a great interest in epidemiologic studies of the causes and risk factors for dementia. This article discusses the current understanding of epidemiologic information, as well as the unique challenges facing epidemiologic studies.