EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA IN INDIA: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Aim: This study aims to estimate the epidemiology and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in India. Materials and methods.To ascertain the prevalence of dementia in India, we conducted a comprehensive review of existing research, utilizing databases from various sources, including EBSCOhost, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. We employed R software (version 3.5.3) along with the "metaphor" package to perform a meta-analysis. Results: Our meta-analysis incorporated data from 18 epidemiological studies. According to the findings of our meta-analysis, there are 20 individuals with dementia among every 1000 individuals in the population (95% confidence interval: 0.02-0.03). The prevalence was notably higher in the older age groups (75 years and above) compared to those under 75. However, prevalence rates did not significantly differ between males and females or between rural and urban populations. Conclusion: This study reveals that dementia, especially among the elderly population in India, is a significant public health concern. A comprehensive national survey supported by robust evidence is essential to accurately determine the prevalence of this condition in the nation.