Risk Factors and Guidelines for Dementia Risk Reduction among Older People in Nonthaburi Province

Abstract

This mixed methods study aimed 1) to study the prevalence of dementia and risk factors of dementia among older people in Nonthaburi province and 2) to study the guidelines for reducing the risks of dementia among older people in Nonthaburi province.The sample was composed of two groups. The first stage, studying risk factors of dementia among older, were 401 older people in Nonthaburi province who were recruited by stratified random sampling, and the second stage, studying the guidelines for reducing the risks of dementia among older people, were purposive sample of 5 older adults and 5 experts.The research tools were dementia risks questionnaire, with the Index of item-objective congruence of 0.67-1 and Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.82, and guidelines for focus group discussion with the Index of item-objective congruence of 1. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and content analysis. The findings were as follows:

1. Risk factors for dementia include ageing, inability to do daily activities, and hyperlipidemia increased risk developing dementia among older people as 1.1, 2.54, and  3.42 times (Adjusted OR = 1.1, 2.54, 3.42 respectively; p<.05).

2. guidelines for reducing the risk of dementia in the elderly included policies for caring for the elderly, guidelines for health care team, strengthening the capacity of elderly caregivers, and increasing the chances of the elderly to be longer healthy aging.

Therefore, it is recommended to utilize the findings for the development of a dementia prevention model for the elderly.