Data Connections Activity

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Prevalence of Major NCD among Older Adults

This activity explores the rates at which older people are diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder. It will examine both age and regional differences within this population.

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Global Prevalence of Major NCD among Older Adults

Almost everyone is projected to live past age 60, and about half of those over age 60 have some memory or other intellectual losses. However, most have not reached the point of intellectual impairment, and few have major NCD.

If the chart below showed prevalence for only those over age 90, the percentages would differ dramatically: Far fewer would survive, and far more of the survivors would have a major NCD. Even at the oldest ages, however, some would still be intellectually sharp.

Data from World Health Organization, 2012; United Nations, July, 2015.




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Prevalence of Major NCD among Older Adults

Elderly person in sweater and jeans sitting on rock, with back to camera.
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Question 1 of 1
There is disagreement within several studies that have examined the number of older adults with major NCD. What are three reasons for this disagreement? How plausible do you think each reason is, and why?
Answers will vary, but the discrepancy may be because many people are not diagnosed or are misdiagnosed, or because the overall rate (the number of cases versus the total population) has decreased.

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REFERENCES

World Health Organization. (2012). Dementia: A public health priority. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

United Nations (2015). Probabilistic Population Projections based on the World Population Prospects: The 2015 Revision. Population Division, DESA. https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Publications/Files/Key_Findings_WPP_2015.pdf