Dementia prevalence underestimated in developing countries

The gap between prevalence of dementia in developing and higher-income countries may be much smaller than previously estimated, according to a study released on July 28, 2008 in The Lancet.

Previously, the relatively younger populations of developing countries have led people to believe that dementia is less prevalent in the developing world than in high income countries. However, new research suggests otherwise.

In 1998, the 10/66 Dementia Research Group was established as a part of the Alzheimer's Disease International, based in King's College London, in order to draw attention to the disparity in research of dementia in developing and high-income countries. At the time, while 66% of patients with dementia were living in low and middle income countries (LMIC), only 10% of research focused on this population.

The problem lies in how dementia is diagnosed, as well as poor reporting in developing countries. According to the 10/66 Dementia Research Group research that uses only the DSM-IV criteria under-diagnoses dementia when compared to a demetia research tool developed by the 10/66 group.