Registration of Alzheimer's disease in Taiwan: patient and informant.

BACKGROUND

To obtain updated data of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their informants in Taiwan with the aim of fostering and supporting collaborative research.

METHODS

In total, 691 patients with the diagnosis of AD were recruited at 6 sites in Taiwan. The Uniform Data Set (UDS; form A) was administrated.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients with AD was 79.3 ± 7.7 years and the mean age of informants was 57.5 ± 13.7 years. In all, 69% of the informants lived with patients and 77% of patients lived with spouse, partner, or children; 11% had 1 sibling with dementia, 1.8% had 2 siblings with dementia, and 0.5% had 3 or more siblings with dementia.

CONCLUSION

We have reported the updated status of AD in Taiwan through a UDS that will foster future collaboration among countries using UDS. The updated information of patients with AD and their informants will direct the future care of AD in Taiwan.