The prevalence of dementia in a sample of elderly norwegians

A total of 1029 elderly persons aged 75 years and above, selected at random from two different samples, were examined to estimate the prevalence rate of dementia in the elderly. Of these, 334 were living at home, 518 in nursing homes, and 177 in homes for the aged. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM‐III. The estimated prevalence rate for the total population aged 75 years and over was 16.3%, slightly higher in women (16.5%) than in men (15.8%). Nearly half (7.8%) lived in institutions, mainly in nursing homes. In the sample living at home, the prevalence rate was 10.5%, in the nursing homes 71.6%, and in the homes for the aged 22.6%. In subjects living in nursing homes, the prevalence rate was significantly higher in women, 77.8%, then in men, 54.1%.