Dados do Trabalho

Título

Dementia syndromes as neglected diseases.

Resumo

Introduction

The neglected diseases are classically infectious diseases. However, in the health care of elderly patients, we observe that cognition and functionality are not routinely evaluated. Aging brings with it an increased risk of cognitive decline, moreover, elderly and low-income populations in cities in the interior of northeastern Brazil would still be exposed to other risk factors such as low education, poor control of chronic diseases and poor diet in childhood. In this context, the absence of a routine assessment of this population could be reflected in a large number of patients with the disease and lack of diagnosis of adequate treatments.

Objective
The objective of this study was to evaluate the proportion of elderly people who would have dementia, but without a diagnosis and previous treatment of the condition.

Methodology
Patients aged 60 years or older from the municipality of Pindoretama-CE were evaluated. Patients in the coverage area of 3 health units were invited to participate in the study. They were evaluated by a neurologist with expertise in cognitive neurology. This assessment consisted of a structured medical interview, neurological and cognitive examination, and functionality tests. After evaluation, the data were discussed with at least two neurologists, to define whether or not the case would be a dementia syndrome.

Results
A total of 213 patients were evaluated; 42 patients were identified as having dementia syndrome. Of this total, only 2 patients had a previous medical diagnosis of dementia and some treatment directed to the condition.

Conclusion
The low recognition and treatment of dementia syndromes shows a negligence of the health care system regarding this condition.