ABSTRACT
The knowledge on the epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia has advanced considerably in the past decade. This chapter describes the epidemiology of AD and dementia with the liberal use of graphs. It also discusses non-modifiable risk factors of AD and dementia, namely age, gender, education, and genetic factors. Since prevalence is determined by incidence and duration of illness, life expectancy following the diagnosis of chronic diseases such as dementia and AD provides important information for health planners, families, and patients, as well as caregivers. In most studies, women were found to be at greater risk for AD, while men appeared to be at a somewhat higher risk for vascular dementia. Many studies have shown that family history is a risk factor for AD, especially for occurrence in a first-degree relative (parent or sibling).
