Background: Cognitive decline, Parkinsonism and depression are frequent accompaniments of aging. Prevalence of these disorders rises together with age. Among residents of assisted living facilities there is presumption of higher occurrence of these disorders.
Objective: To obtain a direct estimate of the prevalence of dementia, Parkinsonism and depression among residents of assisted living facilities in Slovakia and their rates of recognition and treatment, we carried out this study.
Patients and methods: 821 people living in assisted living facilities (mean age 75.9 years) were examined in order to review the occurrence of parkinsonism, cognitive deficit and depression. Patients were evaluated by neurologists professionally focused on movement disorders and dementias. We have obtained patient and/or Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, as necessary.
Results: Out of the total there were 113 residents (13%) with Parkinsonism. 73.5% of Parkinsonian patients (83) suffered from dementia and 59% of these patients suffered from depression. The most frequent cause of Parkinsonism was Parkinson disease, (67 patients, 59.2%), followed by vascular Parkinsonism, (46 patients, 40.7%), Lewy body disease, drug induced Parkinsonism, frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism and Fahr disease. Only 51% of these patients were admitted in the assisted living facility with the diagnosis of Parkinsonism. Only 55% of Parkinsonian patients were treated with anti-Parkinson medications.
Conclusion: Parkinsonism is significantly under-diagnosed and under-treated in assisted living facilities setting. This finding emphasizes the need for accurate detection and treatment of movement disorders also in assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
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© 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.
