The prevalence of dementia in elderly Chinese.

A stratified random sample of 612 Chinese aged 65 years and more and living in the community in Singapore was interviewed in 1985, using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule. The overall prevalence of dementia was 1.8%. The rate increased to 4.8% for those 80-84 years and 12.0% for those 85 years and more. An epidemiological survey of dementia in Beijing in 1986, also using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule, reported a similar rate of 1.8% for those 65 years and more. However, the prevalence of senile dementia was higher and multi-infarct dementia lower in Singapore than in Beijing.