ABSTRACT
There are expectations that epidemiological research may contribute to the people knowledge about the dementias of later life. In 1982-3, the authors carried out survey of prevalence of dementia and depression in the elderly living in the community in Hobart, Tasmania. In this chapter, the authors have taken a level of three or greater on the AGECAT 'organic' dimension to be equivalent to moderate or severe dementia; and level two to be equivalent to mild dementia. Since DSM-III is the only system that requires 'interference with social or occupational functioning' as a criterion for dementia, the people looked to see if removal of this criterion would improve the match between DSM-III and the other systems. The findings of the present study suggest that validation of systems is necessary if the people knowledge of dementia is to be advanced by means of epidemiological research.
