Prevalence and Level of Diagnosis of Dementia in a Population-based Sample in the County of Trøndelag

To investigate and make valid estimates of the occurrence of dementia and the most common subtypes of dementia in Trøndelag, and transfer these figures to estimates of the occurrence of dementia in Norway as a whole, by age, sex and severity of dementia. Furthermore, the proportion of people without dementia diagnosis among those with dementia will be examined. The investigators will further investigate whether there are differences in dementia prevalence between males and females and educational groups and look at factors associated with a lack of diagnosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Dementia

Detailed Description

Introduction There are currently no valid estimates of the occurrence of dementia in Norway. Estimates in use range from 70.000 to 104.000, with the highest estimate being 50 percent greater than the lowest. This makes it difficult to plan today's health services and estimate future needs.

To enable good planning of services to people with dementia, it is important that people with dementia to be evaluated and diagnosed for their illness. An early diagnosis seems to improve prognosis for the course of the disease. The proportion of undiagnosed people with dementia differs in the studies done on this and it is unclear which factors that may explain why many remain undiagnosed for their dementia disease. As a quality measure on the cognitive data being collected in this study we will make population-based Norwegian norms for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MoCA) test and the Ten-word delayed recall test from CERAD.

The aim of this study is to provide knowledge that is crucial for planning good health and care services for older people with cognitive impairment and dementia. We will make valid estimates for the prevalence of dementia and the most common subtypes of them in Trøndelag and transfer these figures to estimates to Norway as a whole, by age, gender and severity of disease. We will investigate whether there are differences in dementia prevalence between males and females and educational groups. Furthermore, there will be made a survey of the proportion of people without dementia diagnosis among those with dementia, and examine the factors associated with a lack of diagnosis.

Method The data collection was a collaboration with the Health Survey in Nord-Trøndelag when this was carried out for the fourth time (HUNT4) in the period 2017-2019. All persons over the age of 70 living in 23 municipalities in Nord-Trøndelag and a district in Trondheim municipality (Trøndelag) were invited to an assessment at a field stations or by home visits (including institutionalized care), in the study parts called HUNT4 70+ and HUNT4 Trondheim 70+. The participants were offered a survey of cognition and function in everyday life. To get more information on cognitive function an interview with next of kin were made for participants with possible cognitive impairment.

A diagnostic work-up group of scientific and clinical experts (geriatrics, old age psychiatry or neurology) assessed the cases and made the research-based diagnosis. Standard diagnostic criteria according to the DSM-5 was applied for all the dementia diseases. The new estimates from Trøndelag will be used to estimate the occurrence of dementia in Norway as a whole, by age, sex and severity of dementia. Furthermore, the proportion of people without dementia diagnosis among those with dementia will be examined. Information about known dementia diagnosis from dementia assessment in municipality or specialist health service will be obtained by linking to registered data. The investigators will further investigate whether there are differences in dementia prevalence between males and females and educational groups and look at factors associated with a lack of diagnosis. Information from the earlier waves of HUNT (1-4) will be used to get information on health and risk factors for dementia from the study population.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 11675

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Tønsberg, Norway
    • Norwegian national advisory unit on Ageing and Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 70 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Persons of 70 years of age or older participated in HUNT4 and accepted cognitive screening in HUNT4 70+.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Living in the designated area

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
HUNT4 70+; All inhabitants in Nord-Trøndelag 70 years of age and older were invited.
HUNT4 Trondheim 70+; All inhabitants of one district in Trondheim 70 years of age and older were invited.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dementia criteria in DSM-5	Used to assess prevalence of dementia in the study population	Each participant is evaluated against dementia criteria in DSM- after participation, based on assessment done in the 20 month long assessment period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Montreal Cognitive Assessment	Tests cognitive function in the domain's memory, visuospatial and executive functions, attention, concentration, language and orientation. Scores from 0 - 30 where 30 indicates best function.	Each participant were assessed once during an assessment period of 20 months
CERAD Ten-word test	Tests immediate and delayed memory. Scores from 0 - 30 in immediate memory and 0-10 in delayed recall, higher scores indicates better function.	Each participant is assessed once during an assessment period of 20 months
Severe Impairment Battery	Tests cognitive function in people with moderate to severe dementia. Scores from 0 - 16 where 16 indicates best function.	Participants in institution with known moderate to severe dementia is assessed once during an assessment period of 20 months
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale	Gathers information on anxiety and depression, scores from 0 - 42 where 0 indicates best function	Each participant is assessed once during an assessment period of 20 months.
Instrumental Activities in Daily Living Scale	Assess problems with instrumental activities of daily living, scores function in 8 instrumental activities, lower scores indicates better function	Assessed in proxy interview during interview period of 22 months
Physical Self-Maintenance Scale	Assess problems with personal activities of daily living. Assessed in proxy interview and by health personnel for participants in institutions, scores function in 6 personal activities, lower scores indicates better function	20 months
Neuropsychiatric Inventory	Assess neuropsychiatric symptoms, screening questions on each symptom and a score for frequency from 1-4, severity 1-3 and distress 1-5, higher scores indicates more severe symptoms	22 months
Clinical Dementia Rating Scale	Assess degree of cognitive decline and function level, scores from 0-3 where higher score indicates more cognitive decline and lower function level	22 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Norwegian Centre for Ageing and Health
• Collaborators: University of Oslo; Norwegian Health Association
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Geir Selbæk, Phd, Norwegian national advisory unit on Ageing and Health

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Engedal K, Gjora L, Benth JS, Wagle J, Ronqvist TK, Selbaek G. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment: Normative Data from a Large, Population-Based Sample of Cognitive Healthy Older Adults in Norway-The HUNT Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2022;86(2):589-599. doi: 10.3233/JAD-215442.
• Gjora L, Strand BH, Engedal K, Ernstsen L, Myrstad C, Skjellegrind H, Thingstad P, Selbaek G. Dementia and mild cognitive impairment in older people in Trondelag. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2023 Jun 26;143(10). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.22.0815. Print 2023 Jun 27. English, Norwegian.
• Wagle J, Selbaek G, Benth JS, Gjora L, Ronqvist TK, Bekkhus-Wetterberg P, Persson K, Engedal K. The CERAD Word List Memory Test: Normative Data Based on a Norwegian Population-Based Sample of Healthy Older Adults 70 Years and Above. The HUNT Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;91(1):321-343. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220672.
• GjOra L, Strand BH, Bergh S, Borza T, Braekhus A, Engedal K, Johannessen A, Kvello-Alme M, Krokstad S, Livingston G, Matthews FE, Myrstad C, Skjellegrind H, Thingstad P, Aakhus E, Aam S, Selbaek G. Current and Future Prevalence Estimates of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia, and Its Subtypes in a Population-Based Sample of People 70 Years and Older in Norway: The HUNT Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;79(3):1213-1226. doi: 10.3233/JAD-201275.

Helpful Links

• Website that shows the current and future prevalence of dementia in the different regions and municipalities in Norway

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): February 28, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 22, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 20, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Prevalence; Alzheimer's disease; Epidemiology
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Dementia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 181124

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No