Date:30/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/30/stories/2008073061682200.htm

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Dementia underestimation?

CHICAGO: Dementia rates in developing countries, including India, may be considerably higher than official estimates and closer to rates in wealthy countries. This is the finding from a study reported at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease here, and published by The Lancet.

Scientists used a more liberal definition of dementia that is more suitable to poorer, less educated populations, where respect for family often means relatives do not regard dementia as a burden so much and may be less likely even to report problems. It involved nearly 15,000 people in 11 sites from China, India, Cuba, Mexico and other nations. — AP