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The attitude of elderly lay people towards the symptoms of dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2006

Huseyin A. Şahin ,
I. Hakan Gurvit ,
Murat Emre ,
Hasmet A. Hanagasi ,
Basar Bilgic  and
Hande Harmanci
Huseyin A. Şahin
Affiliation:
Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey
I. Hakan Gurvit
Affiliation:
University of Istanbul, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Istanbul, Turkey
Murat Emre
Affiliation:
University of Istanbul, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Istanbul, Turkey
Hasmet A. Hanagasi
Affiliation:
University of Istanbul, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Istanbul, Turkey
Basar Bilgic
Affiliation:
University of Istanbul, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Istanbul, Turkey
Hande Harmanci
Affiliation:
Marmara University, Medical Faculty, Department of Public Health, Istanbul, Turkey
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Abstract

Objectives: To assess the attitude of elderly lay people towards the concept and symptoms of dementia.

Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study of 859 residents without dementia, aged 70 years or older, living in an urban area in Istanbul. Nine questions with yes/no responses were designed to investigate the attitudes of the responders to the concept of dementia and symptoms related to particular aspects of dementia. The χ2-test was used to test for differences between proportions of respondents in different age, sex and education groups.

Results: Dementia was considered as normal by the majority of respondents and age and education did not influence this attitude. Women were significantly less inclined to consider dementia and its associated problems as normal.

Conclusion: The concept of dementia is generally not considered as a medical problem by the elderly Turkish population, independent of age and education. These results are important in guiding policy makers and shaping awareness raising campaigns of local Alzheimer's Associations.

Keywords

dementiaattitudeaging
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 2006 , pp. 251 - 258
Copyright
International Psychogeriatric Association 2006

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