ANALYSIS OF DEMENTIA MORTALITY IN BRAZIL: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.15947824190810

• Palavras-chave: dementia, epidemiology, observational study.

• Keywords: dementia, epidemiology, observational study.

• Abstract:

  Dementia is a syndrome caused by chronic and progressive brain disease, leading to cognitive decline that affects mental functions such as memory, thinking, and language. Each person is affected in a unique way, depending on the underlying disease and individual characteristics, as well as factors such as personality and environment. 

  Alzheimer's disease presents with progressive memory decline, while dementia with Lewy bodies includes visual hallucinations and parkinsonian signs. The diagnosis of dementia involves cognitive assessment with screening and neuropsychological tests to identify cognitive alterations and differentiate forms of dementia. The objective of the present study was to identify the epidemiological profile of dementia in Brazil. The time frame was the incidence of notifications of the disease in the period from 2017 to 2023. A quantitative, retrospective and epidemiological methodological approach was used, showing the number of hospitalizations due to dementia. The data were collected through the S.U.S. (Unified Health System) Information Technology Department (DATASUS), and the variables investigated were year of care, region, age group, gender, color/race, and deaths related to dementia. The data from this study highlight the importance of a regionalized and multidisciplinary approach to tackling dementia in Brazil. Investments in health infrastructure, training of professionals, and awareness campaigns are essential to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, especially in less favored regions.