FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR NEUROLOGIC DISORDERS - FINDINGS FROM THE COPIAH COUNTY STUDY

The prevalence of functional disability in persons with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson''s disease, and severe dementia was assessed in a survey of every household in Copiah County, Mississippi, and all chronic-care institutions serving that county. Of the 23,842 residents evaluated, 246 had moderate to severe functional impairment accompanied by one or more of the aforementioned neurological disorders; 108 were not fully ambulatory; 59 required constant supervision because of cognitive difficulties; 54 were having at least one afebrile seizure monthly; and 25 experienced some combination of these impairments. Overall, prevalence ratios for these impairments increased markedly with age.