Alzheimer Disease: Gurol E

Gurvit H, Emre M, Tinaz S, Bilgic B, Hanagasi H, Sahin H, Gurol E, Kvaloy JT, Harmanci H. · Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa, Istanbul, Turkey. · Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. · Pubmed #18276959 No free full text.

Abstract: A cross-sectional, population-based, 2-stage prevalence study was conducted in a sample of 1019 community-dwelling persons over the age of 70 years living in Istanbul. In the first phase, participants were screened with the Mini-Mental State Examination for evidence of cognitive impairment. In the second phase, 79% of those who screened positive (n = 322) and 9% of screen-negatives (n = 63) underwent a standardized diagnostic workup. Diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) was made according to established criteria. Ninety-three cases of dementia were identified, 58 of whom were diagnosed with probable AD. Based on these numbers, the prevalence rates of probable AD and dementia were calculated to be 11.0% (95% CI, 7.0% to 15.0%) and 20.0% (95% CI, 14.0% to 26.0%), respectively, in this population. Prevalence rates of dementia and AD in Istanbul, Turkey, are comparable with those seen in the Western world.

Harmanci H, Emre M, Gurvit H, Bilgic B, Hanagasi H, Gurol E, Sahin H, Tinaz S. · Department of Public Health, Marmara University Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey. · Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. · Pubmed #14512826 No free full text.

Abstract: The objective is to study risk factors for Alzheimer disease (AD) in Istanbul, Turkey. This is a population-based case-control study. We screened people over age 70 in the community for cognitive impairment. The screen positives and a proportion of screen negatives underwent neurologic examination in the second phase. Cases were 57 "probable" AD patients and controls were 127 cognitively normal individuals identified by neurologic examination. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Having a university/college degree had a protective effect on AD risk (OR = 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02-0.50). Exposure to occupational electromagnetic field had an OR of 4.02 (95% CI = 1.02-15.78). Use of electricity for residential heating also showed elevated risk (OR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.12-6.85). Our results suggest that having a higher education is protective from AD and that electromagnetic field exposure at work or at home is a significant risk factor.