INCIDENCE OF DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, PARKINSON'S DISEASE, AND EPILEPSY AMONG DANISH SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS AND BAPTISTS

Abstract

In search of neuroprotective life styles, to observe the incidences of the chronic disorders of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy among Danish Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) and Baptists compared to the Danish population. Hospital admissions for dementia, AD, PD and epilepsy were compared between members of the Danish Religious Societies Health Study (2003) comprising 6532 SDAs and 3720 Baptist with the general Danish population. Standardized incidence rates (SIR) stratified by sex, age and calendar time were calculated. The outcome was first hospital admission for dementia, AD, PD or epilepsy. Dementia and AD were combined to one outcome. From 1977 to 2009 256 cases of dementia and AD, 70 cases of PD and 96 cases of epilepsy among SDAs, 81 with dementia or AD, 33 with PD and 59 with epilepsy among BAPs. Both communities had significantly lower incidence rates than expected for dementia and AD, most pronounced for BAPs (SDA: 0,87 [0,77-0,98], BAP: 0,59[0,47-0,73]). The female SDA and the male BAP were of lowest risk. The risk of epilepsy was only marginally reduced, and the risk of PD was not different. This national cohort study shows positive association of membership of the religious cohorts of SDAs and BAPs and the risk of dementia and AD.This finding suggests that parts of the life style of the two communities, in particularly the BAPs, are delaying the onset of or protecting against dementia and AD.