Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease
This chapter provides a brief overview concerning the global epidemic, risk and protective factors, and possible intervention strategies of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease, which is projected to reach global epidemic level in three to four decades, already has a huge economic and societal impact. Epidemiologic research has provided sufficient evidence supporting that lifestyle or cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged and older adults play a critical role in the onset and progression of late-life dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, whereas active engagement in mental, social, and physical activities may postpone the onset of the dementing disorders. The community intervention studies are warranted to determine to what extent intervention strategies towards control of major lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors and related vascular disorders as well as maintenance of an active lifestyle may help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia syndrome.