An Investigation of the Risk Factors and Prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease in the Eastern Region of Turkey

The relationships between the prevalence of AD, socio-demographic characteristics, and other chronic diseases were researched within the population aged 65 and over living in Erzurum city center. The study was realized between June of 2010 and July of 2011. It involved 455 people over age 65 living in Erzurum city center. The Mini-Mental State Examination and Daily Living Scale were applied to participants. A total of 455 people participated in the study. AD was detected in 29 people. Twenty-one participants were female, and eight were male. The prevalence of AD was calculated to be 6.4%. According to the results of a logistic regression analysis, the AD prevalence detection rate in the a 75-84 age group was ten times greater than in the 65-74 age group, and the rate in the 85 and over group was 36 times greater than in the 65-74 age group. AD is more common in women than in men. The rate increases 4.1-fold among those with AD diabetes mellitus disease, 3.9-fold among those with Parkinson's disease, 2.6-fold among those with heart disease, and 4.2-fold among those with dementia in their families. AD prevalence for those age of 65 and over was shown to be 6.4% in our study. The risk of AD increases 17-fold with increasing age. The risk of developing AD also increases in cases of chronic diseases.