Alzheimer’s Disease: Current Trends in Wales

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and incidence rates of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) between 1999 and 2010 in Wales and the relationship between AD with age. Methods: The Patient Episode Database for Wales was used to identify patients who were diagnosed with AD between 1999 and 2010. Results: During the 12-year study period, 14,534 people were diagnosed with AD in Wales. The overall prevalence of AD in individuals 60 years or older was 2% and the overall incidence was estimated as 1.5 per 1000 person-years. The prevalence of AD in individuals between 60 and 74 years was 1%, rising up to 5% in those aged 75 years and older. The incidence of AD increased during the study period from 1.4 per 1000 person-years in 1999 to 1.9 per 1000 person-years in 2010. More than half of the diagnosed AD during the study period was unspecified. Conclusion: The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is progressively increasing in Wales. Prevalence and incidence rates rise with age. It is important that the public is educated on the symptoms of AD and doctors pay particular attention to these symptoms so as to ensure that diagnosis is made as early as possible. This will enable adequate support to be provided as soon as possible in order to prolong patients’ independence and slow the progression of symptoms.

Keywords

• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Wales
• early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
• late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
• incidence
• prevalence
• Unspecified
• epidemiology
• United Kingdom