The prevalence of cognitive impairment in an elderly Canadian population

ABSTRACT— We investigated cognitive impairment in a study of the health of the elderly population of Saskatchewan. Surveys of elderly persons living at home (n=1267) and living in long‐term care facilities (n‐990) were conducted in 1981. Cognitive impairment was assessed by a short 10‐item mental status questionnaire previously validated against a clinical diagnosis of dementia in an elderly Canadian population. The prevalence of clinically significant cognitive impairment was found to increase with age and with dependence level in long‐term care facilities. We estimate that 7.8% of the elderly population have cognitive impairment consistent with a clinical diagnosis of dementia. Our estimates are compared with those derived from other studies. These findings affirm the importance of dementia as a cause of dependence in the elderly and the need for long‐term care facilities to deal with dementia and its consequences. Also, since at least as many persons with cognitive impairment live at home as in long‐term care facilities, health care planners must direct attention to the elderly with dementia at home.