Dementia among older adults living in long-term care facilities: an epidemiological study

Institutionalization has been associated with social isolation, psychological and cognitive changes, and decreased levels of physical activity in older adults. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and functional dependence in older adults dwelling in two different Brazilian long-term care facilities (LTCFs). This is a cross-sectional study with 185 older people of both sexes, aged 60 years or over, residing in two LTCFs in the city of Montes Claros-MG, Brazil. The diagnosis of MCI and dementia was performed using the . Prevalence rates of dementia, MCI, and functional dependence in institutionalized older participants were 62.3, 15.1, and 78.9%, respectively. There was a significant reduction of the Mini-Mental State Examination scores according to the increase of the institutionalization period in LCTFs and the age of older adults (p