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Aging and Cognitive Health in Nepal: Prevalence of Dementia, Disability, and Functional Decline among the community residing people (aged≥60) in Nepal

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Stella-Maria Paddick

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

© 2025 The Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association. BACKGROUND: The much-needed studies on local epidemiological and psychosocial burden of dementia and disability among elderly is lacking in Nepal which are needed for planning and policy making. Thus, this community-based study was conducted to screen Dementia, Functional impairment and Disability among community residing elderly people. METHOD: This was a one-stage house to house cross-sectional epidemiological survey of all individuals aged ≥60 years in two wards of Dharan Sub Metropolitan City, Nepal. Measures used were Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline (IQCODE) and Brief Community Screening Instrument for dementia (CSI-D), Everyday Ability Scale (EASI) and Barthel Index. Data were collected by trained nurses from December 2021 to March 2022 using Kobo toolbox software and analyzed using SPSS-16. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Nepal Health Research Council. RESULT: A total of 1009 (588 females) were enrolled in the study. Dementia was prevalent in 8.8% and 10.7% by Brief-CSID and IQ-CODE respectively. The bivariate analysis showed dementia was more frequent in ≥75 age group (OR 2.8[95% CI 1.9- 4.5]; p <0.001), having physical illness (OR 2.3[95%CI 1.3-3.9]; p = 0.003), having hearing impairment (OR 1.9[95%CI 1.2-3.0]; p = 0.004), and visual impairment (OR 1.9[95%CI 1.0-3.2]; p = 0.023). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed dementia by Brief CSID was associated with ≥75 age group (AOR 2.296[1.418-3.719], p = 0.001) and people using some form of mobility aids (AOR=2.022[1.19-3.435], p = 0.009). Similarly, dementia by IQCODE was associated with illiterate groups (p = 0.02) and homemaker by occupation (p = 0.02). Functional impairment (EASI score ≥5) was present in 4.9%, and 19.5% had moderate disability by Barthel index. CONCLUSION: The study showed the prevalence of dementia among people aged ≥60 years old is high and associated with the number of risk factors. Physical illness and sensory impairments may be a modifiable risk factor in this population.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Thapa P, Paddick S-M, Sapkota N, Lukose A

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Alzheimer's & Dementia

Year: 2025

Volume: 21

Issue: S6

Online publication date: 23/12/2025

Acceptance date: 02/04/2018

Date deposited: 08/01/2026

ISSN (print): 1552-5260

ISSN (electronic): 1552-5279

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Inc.

URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_107544

DOI: 10.1002/alz70860_107544

PubMed id: 41433942

Notes: Supplement: Public Health

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