Abstract
Epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that dementia patients aged ≥ 85 years are biologically different from those aged 65–84. This study aimed to assess whether patients (>85 years) have a distinct sociodemographic and clinical profile. Older patients had lower educational achievements, different carer relationships, and were more likely to take memantine/concomitant treatments and be institutionalized. Differences were observed with respect to concomitant disease/other risk factors (depression, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, hypertension). Oldest patients had greater impairment (more severe Global Deterioration Scale stage, lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores). Greater concomitant drug use and younger carers associated with older patients suggest higher management and social costs.
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