Impairment In India Research Articles

Providing Cataract Surgeries at a Rural Primary Health Centre through Non-governmental Organisation Collaboration: An 8-year Experience

Abstract The National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment aims to reduce blindness and visual impairment in India. Despite these efforts, rural areas still have high numbers of cataract patients due to inadequate healthcare services. Leveraging non-governmental organisation (NGO) networks to provide rural eye care camps has been proposed to address these challenges. This article shares an 8-year collaboration with an NGO in rural Haryana, delivering cataract surgeries. Initially, surgeries were conducted in temporary locations; however, due to complications, they were shifted to hospitals, increasing travel difficulties. In 2016, collaboration with ICARE Eye Hospital began, involving screening camps and transporting patients for surgery. This reduced patient expenses and referral burdens, performing 1690 surgeries with high satisfaction. Authors recommend similar collaborations to achieve the national blindness reduction goal.

Navigating the need for accessible labelling through the narratives of consumers with visual impairment in India

This study aims to understand the strategies consumers with visual impairment (CWV) use in acquiring product information and explores preferences for accessible labelling and its benefits. This study employed the qualitative approach of thematic analysis. A snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Data were collected from CWV through semi-structured interviews. The sample size of this study was 12. The data were analysed using NVivo software. The study revealed three strategies used by CWV to obtain product information, namely reliance on caregivers, staff, and technology. However, all the strategies employed have multiple drawbacks. The study reported a high preference for accessible labelling in braille and quick response (QR) codes. Implementing a combination of braille labels and QR codes on product packages was the most beneficial strategy for CWV. The Implementation of accessible labels ensures inclusion in the marketplace.

Disability, culture, and erased sexuality: curated raw narratives of disabled women with significant impairments in India

Disabled women with significant impairments (DWSI) are not adequately recognised within feminist disability studies. They face stigma, carnal taboos, and systemic exclusion from economies of desire and sexuality. Their voices are seldom heard, and their stories, when captured, are whitewashed. There is an urgent need for these women to gain voice and visibility as a unique category within the political spectrum of women with disabilities so that their unique challenges can be identified and their rights restored. In-depth research aimed at spotlighting their unique challenges and vulnerabilities using ‘raw narratives’ as a novel method, exposed their tabooed and otherwise censored embodied experiences. This paper presents a candid case study of one such woman in India using narrative inquiry and autoethnography. Carol Thomas’ notion of ‘impairment effects’ and Margrit Shildrick’s concept of ‘embodied precarity’ are used to highlight how impairment effects, coupled with inadequate care infrastructure in India, force disabled women with significant impairments into chronic states of dependency and precarity, leading to an internalised loss of self-worth and agency. The wider use of raw narratives as a lens to probe unspoken elements of human experience and further study of DWSI as a community could enrich feminist disability studies.

Fostering Inclusion in Digital Marketplace: Vistas into the Online Shopping Experiences of Consumers with Visual Impairment in India

Online shopping has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, overshadowing traditional brick-and-mortar shopping. Research has tried to understand the online shopping experiences of various consumers. However, the online shopping experiences of consumers with visual impairment (CWV) gained less attention. This study captures the online shopping experiences of CWV by employing a phenomenological qualitative approach. Data was collected from CWV through semi-structured interviews. The sample size of this study was fifteen, and data was analyzed using NVivo14. The findings indicate a growing preference for online shopping among the CWV. The results explore the accessibility-related issues encountered by CWV and strategies employed to overcome them. Additionally, the paper underscores the benefits of independence and the impact of online shopping on the personal growth and well-being of CWV. The study provides insights to marketers to foster inclusion in the digital marketplace. This study helps marketers and other stakeholders to understand the online shopping experiences of CWV and ensures consumer well-being and inclusion.

Understanding Sthanika Upakrama in Karna Rogas: A Traditional Approach to Ear Disorders

This article delves into the traditional Ayurvedic approach of Sthanika Upakrama in managing Karnagata Rogas, or ear disorders, through localized treatments aimed at restoring Doshic balance and alleviating related symptoms. The study explores the methodology and results of employing Sthanika Upakrama as a holistic ear health approach, highlighting its potential benefits in modern healthcare practices. Ayurvedic scholars have outlined specialized methods, such as Karna pramarjana, Karna abhyanaga, Karna poorana, and Karna dhoopana etc, which hold promise for addressing auditory impairments. Amidst a substantial burden of auditory impairment in India, these ancient interventions offer potential solutions to contemporary challenges in auditory health. The integrated approach of Sthanika Upakrama presents a comprehensive strategy to prevent and manage ear-related ailments.

Young adults with vision impairment in India: Loneliness and social networks.

To examine the prevalence of loneliness and associated factors in young adults with vision impairment (VI), including quality of life (QoL) in India. Two hundred and three VI young adults (18-35 years) and 219 age-matched non-VI (controls) adults completed the loneliness scale, WHOQOL-BREF, Social Network Index (SNI) (network diversity, people in network size and number of embedded network subscales) and questions regarding sociodemographic characteristics and independent mobility. Rasch analysis was used to validate the questionnaires and interval-level scores were generated. Generalised linear models were used to estimate independent associations of sociodemographic factors, VI characteristics, social networks and QoL with loneliness. The prevalence of moderate and severe loneliness in the VI group was 10% (95% CI: 6.5, 15.4) and 4.4% (95% CI: 2.0, 8.2), respectively, and higher than that of controls. The VI group had a worse loneliness score than controls (-1.66 ± 2.25 vs. -2.13 ± 1.85 logits; p = 0.03). Those with ≤12 years and >12 years of education had loneliness scores of -1.58 ± 2.45 and -1.82 ± 1.99 logits, respectively (p = 0.01). Compared with controls, the VI group reported fewer extended family members, neighbours and friends leading to significantly smaller networks and network diversity (all p < 0.001). Loneliness scores demonstrated a significant correlation with only two SNI subscales for both groups: people in network size (r = -0.28 for VI; r = -0.30 for non-VI; p < 0.001 for both) and number of embedded networks (r = -0.22 for VI; r = -0.21 for non-VI; p = 0.002 for both). Both education (β = 0.45; p = 0.04) and QoL (β = -0.27, p = 0.02) were predictors of loneliness. Loneliness was commonly experienced by young VI adults and was higher among those with lower levels of education. Loneliness decreased with the presence of a larger number of people in network, suggesting that interventions to increase social activity and participation may be valuable in young VI adults.

National prevalence of vision impairment and blindness and associated risk factors in adults aged 40 years and older with known or undiagnosed diabetes: results from the SMART-India cross-sectional study

National estimates of the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness in people with diabetes are required to inform resource allocation. People with diabetes are more susceptible to conditions such as diabetic retinopathy that can impair vision; however, these are often missed in national studies. This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of vision impairment and blindness in people with diabetes in India. Data from the SMART-India study, a cross-sectional survey with national coverage of 42 147 Indian adults aged 40 years and older, collected using a complex sampling design, were used to obtain nationally representative estimates for the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness in people with diabetes in India. Vulnerable adults (primarily those who did not have capacity to provide consent); pregnant and breastfeeding women; anyone deemed too ill to be screened; those who did not provide consent; and people with type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes, or secondary diabetes were excluded from the study. Vision impairment was defined as presenting visual acuity of 0·4 logMAR or higher and blindness as presenting a visual acuity of 1·0 logMAR or higher in the better-seeing eye. Demographic, anthropometric, and laboratory data along with geographic distribution were analysed in all participants with available data. Non-mydriatic retinal images were used to grade diabetic retinopathy, and risk factors were also assessed. A total of 7910 people with diabetes were included in the analysis, of whom 5689 had known diabetes and 2221 were undiagnosed. 4387 (55·5%) of 7909 participants with available sex data were female and 3522 (44·5%) participants were male. The estimated national prevalence of vision impairment was 21·1% (95% CI 15·7-27·7) and blindness 2·4% (1·7-3·4). A higher prevalence of any vision impairment (29·2% vs 19·6%; p=0·016) and blindness (6·7% vs 1·6%; p<0·0001) was observed in those with ungradable images. In known diabetes, diabetic retinopathy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3·06 [95% CI 1·25-7·51]), vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (aOR 7·21 [3·52-14·75]), and diabetic macular oedema (aOR 5·41 [2·20-13·33]) were associated with blindness in adjusted analysis. Common sociodemographic risk factors for vision impairment and blindness include older age, lower educational attainment, and unemployment. Based on the estimated 101 million people with diabetes in 2021 and the interpretation of the data from this study, approximately 21 million people with diabetes have vision impairment in India, of whom 2·4 million are blind. Higher prevalence is observed in those from lower socio-economic strata and policy makers should focus on these groups to reduce inequalities in health care. Global Challenge Research Fund of United Kingdom Research and Innovation through the Medical Research Council.

INEQUALITY IN AWARENESS, TREATMENT, AND CONTROL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS AMONG OLDER ADULTS AND ELDERLY IN INDIA

Abstract Globally, 1.1 billion people have some form of visual impairment, and 90 percent of them live in low and middle-income countries. The prevalence of visual impairment is increasing, and the likelihood of increasing this trend is also higher. Yet, there is little evidence on the extent of awareness, treatment, and control (ATC) of visual impairment in India. We estimate the prevalence and ATC of visual impairment among older adults and the elderly across socioeconomic groups. We used the unit data from the first round of the Longitudinal ageing study of India (LASI), 2017-18, bivariate analysis, estimated age sex-adjusted prevalence, logistic regression, concentration index, and concentration curve used in the analyses. Among the 45+ population, 30.18% have any form of visual impairment, around 47.96% have awareness about the visual impairment, 17.21% have taken treatment for vision-related issues, and 12.70% have control vision after treatment. The prevalence was higher among the illiterate poor and females; however, the awareness, treatment, and control were higher among those with higher education who belongs to the richer richest wealth quintile. The concentration index and concentration curve suggest that higher prevalence was concentrated among the poor, and contrary to that, awareness treatment and control were concentrated among richer. To deal with it, public health services from the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels may be integrated for effective care of growing, underdiagnosed, and untreated visual impairments among older adults and the elderly in India.

Advocacy as Access Work: How People with Visual Impairments Gain Access to Digital Banking in India

Research in accessibility and assistive technology often assumes that technology is within easy reach, that is, people with disabilities are able to obtain technologies so long as they are accessible. As a result, less is understood about the challenges that people with disabilities face in obtaining technology in the first place and how they work around these challenges. We reduce this gap by examining the technology access challenges of people with visual impairments in India in the context of digital banking. Through a qualitative study consisting of 30 interviews, we find that participants routinely encountered social and technical challenges that made it difficult to access and use digital banking. To address these challenges, people with visual impairments engaged in advocacy work which consisted of five dimensions: 1) creating awareness, 2) demonstrating competence, 3) escalation, 4) gathering support, and 5) seeking sighted help. We expand on the idea of advocacy as a form of access work performed by people with visual impairments to secure and maintain access to digital banking.

A Smartphone-Based Assessment of Hearing Impairment among Students of a Medical College, Delhi, India- A Cross-Sectional Study.

The burden of hearing impairment in India is substantially high, largely preventable, and avoidable. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hearing impairment using a smartphone-based tool among medical students and to study the factors associated, including personal audio device usage in a medical college hospital in Delhi, India. We conducted a cross-sectional study among undergraduate medical students. The study participants were enrolled via. Stratified random sampling. We assessed hearing impairment via-HearWHO application with scores ranging from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100 with categorization into i) above 75 ii) 50-75 iii) below 50. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 96 study participants were included, with the mean age of study participants as 20.3±1.4 years. On assessment with HearWHO, 36 (37.5%) were in the category of score above 75, 51 (53.1%) in score category 50-75, and 9 (9.4%) in score below 50. The overall mean score of the hearing assessment was 68.9±13.4 (Range: 12 to 94). Among the earphone device users, 27.1% do not comply with volume alerts on user devices. Among the study population, 9.4% of the study participants were likely to be having hearing loss and 53.1% should be screened regularly for hearing impairment. Addressing hearing loss remains crucial among the young population, especially the medical professionals, which is feasible and imperative in the current scenario.

Diagnostic Challenges in the Assessment of Psychiatric Illness among Persons with Speech and Hearing Impairments in India

Abstract The prevalence of psychiatric illness among the hearing impaired does not vary from the general population. This case series highlights two different presentations of psychiatric illness in speech and hearing-impaired patients. The first case describes a patient that was diagnosed to have unspecified nonorganic psychosis after a detailed assessment and observation. The second case describes the challenges in diagnosing depression versus organicity. Difficulties in communication act as a barrier to psychiatric assessment, and there are no clear guidelines for the same. Both of these cases summarize the challenges faced in assessment, mental status examination, the lack of knowledge of linguistics hindering assessment, and the paucity of literature on psychiatric problems in speech and hearing impaired, especially in India. We found that these may be overcome by consistent ward observation, assessment of psychomotor activity, affect, functional analysis of aggression, and course and duration of the presenting illness.

Current estimates of the economic burden of blindness and visual impairment in India: A cost of illness study

Purpose:Currently, there are an estimated 4.95 million blind persons and 70 million vision impaired persons in India, out of which 0.24 million are blind children. Early detection and treatment of the leading causes of blindness such as cataract are important in reducing the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment. There are significant developments in the field of blindness prevention, management, and control since the “Vision 2020: The right to sight” initiative. Very few studies have analyzed the cost of blindness at the population level. This study was undertaken to update the information on the economic burden of blindness and visual impairment in India based on the prevalence of blindness in India. We used secondary and publicly available data and a few assumptions for our estimations.Methods:We used gross national income (GNI), disability weights, and loss of productivity metrics to calculate the economic burden of blindness and vision impairment based on the “cost of illness” methodology.Results:The estimated net loss of GNI due to blindness in India is INR 845 billion (Int$ 38.4 billion), with a per capita loss of GNI per blind person of INR 170,624 (Int$ 7,756). The cumulative loss of GNI due to avoidable blindness in India is INR 11,778.6 billion (Int$ 535 billion). The cumulative loss of GNI due to blindness increased almost three times in the past two decades. The potential loss of productivity due to vision impairment is INR 646 billion (Int$ 29.4 billion).Conclusion:These estimates provide adequate information for budgetary allocation and will help advocate the need for accelerated adoption of all four strategies of integrated people-centered eye care (IPCEC). Early detection and treatment of blindness, especially among children, is very important in reducing the economic burden; thus, there is a need for integrating primary eye care horizontally with all levels of primary healthcare.

A survey of mobile app use among university students with visual impairment in India

Mobile phones/devices are an important part of our daily lives for sighted people and those with visual impairment (VI) in India. This study explores how Indian university students use and perceive mobile apps and identify the challenges in their usage. A paper-based survey was administered for 124 college students who were legally blind. The survey had items relating to sociodemographic information, use of mobile devices and apps, and the use of apps specifically designed for persons with VI. Results show that, on average, the participants with VI have been using a mobile device for more than 5 years. Many participants used Android devices and free apps. In addition, they found that the mobile apps were user-friendly and accessible. Results also found that Facebook and WhatsApp are more frequently used. Participants had a high level of self-efficacy and positive attitudes toward special apps for VI. Android devices are popular in India because of lower cost compared to iOS devices. Results are discussed, and implications for practice are provided.

Vascular cognitive impairment in India: Challenges and opportunities for prevention and treatment.

The burden of vascular contribution to cognitive impairment and dementia is substantially high in India. There are approximately 5.3 million dementia patients in India and nearly 40% are estimated to be due to vascular dementia. Several factors pose unique challenges to reducing the burden of vascular dementia and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in India. Wide heterogeneity in vascular risk factor profile, diversity in socioeconomic, ethnic and dietary factors, as well as regional and rural-urban differences impact uniform implementation of preventive and therapeutic strategies. There is limited evidence on the natural history of vascular disease from longitudinal cohorts in India. Additionally, the lack of advanced brain imaging and genetic information pose challenges to understanding pathophysiology and treatment response to VCI in India. Efforts are now being made to implement programmes to reduce cardiovascular risk and VCI at the population level. Cognitive and functional measures appropriate to the diverse linguistic and educational context have been developed to diagnose VCI across India. Multicentric clinical and research cohorts of stroke are also being established. Filling research gaps and developing intervention strategies for the Indian context are crucial to address the growing burden of VCI.

Factors Associated with Out-of-Pocket Expenditure among Patients Admitted for Cataract Surgery under District Blindness Control Society Scheme: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Private Medical College Hospital of South India.

Background:The National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment in India supports the management of various conditions of the eye including cataracts.Objective:The objective of this study is to estimate out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and factors associated with it among patients admitted for cataract surgery under District Blindness Control Society (DBCS) scheme.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Medical College Hospital of Coastal Karnataka, South India. Data were collected using a predesigned semi-structured interview schedule from 100 patients admitted for cataract surgery under DBCS scheme. Costs were reported as median values with interquartile range (IQR) and compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test.Results:Median total cost incurred by the patient was INR 1700 (IQR 1052–2575). Median direct costs (1425, IQR 762.5–2200 INR) included medical expenditure (600, IQR 0–1475 INR), mainly contributed by the treatment of systemic comorbid conditions and nonmedical expenditure toward travel. Median indirect costs (400, IQR 200–600 INR) included loss of wages for the patient and the bystander.Conclusions:OOPE for cataract surgery among DBCS patients was associated with the presence of comorbidity, postponement of surgery, duration of hospital stay, and distance traveled by the patient.

Implementation of National Infant Screening for Hearing Program in India: Challenges, Opportunities and Suggested Framework.

Hearing impairment is most frequent sensory deficit present in infants at birth and unaddressed hearing impairment causes severe damages to both infants and their families. In India 77,756 live children are born per day which accounts for about 25 million children annually among them approximately 1.5 lacs (@ 6 per1000) children born with hearing impairment. These children have no prospects of early identification & intervention. As a result, majority of these children suffers from oral communication difficulties, poor academic performance, reduced psychosocial & cognitive development, socioeconomic insufficiency, deprived vocational opportunities & employability. However, consequences of hearing impairment are ameliorable if timely hearing screening and effective intervention strategies are instituted. Unfortunately, India has not yet envisaged any dedicated early identification and intervention program for children with hearing impairment. However, there are ample of opportunities for implementing such program. Hence, this paper endeavours to address the necessity to plan and to implement the early identification of hearing impairment by discussing burden of disorder, suggesting means to overcome the challenges and to explore and emphasize the opportunities of purposeful utilization of available infrastructure and resources. This paper also intends to suggest a conceptual framework for planning and implementing of National Infant Screening for Hearing Program to deal with serious consequences of hearing impairment in India.

Machine learning improvements to compressive sensing for speech enhancement in hearing aid applications

PurposeSpeech is the primary means of communication for humans. A proper functioning auditory system is needed for accurate cognition of speech. Compressed sensing (CS) is a method for simultaneous compression and sampling of a given signal. It is a novel method increasingly being used in many speech processing applications. The paper aims to use Compressive sensing algorithm for hearing aid applications to reduce surrounding noise.Design/methodology/approachIn this work, the authors propose a machine learning algorithm for improving the performance of compressive sensing using a neural network.FindingsThe proposed solution is able to reduce the signal reconstruction time by about 21.62% and root mean square error of 43% compared to default L2 norm minimization used in CS reconstruction. This work proposes an adaptive neural network–based algorithm to enhance the compressive sensing so that it is able to reconstruct the signal in a comparatively lower time and with minimal distortion to the quality.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of compressive sensing for speech enhancement in a hearing aid is limited due to the delay in the reconstruction of the signal.Practical implicationsIn many digital applications, the acquired raw signals are compressed to achieve smaller size so that it becomes effective for storage and transmission. In this process, even unnecessary signals are acquired and compressed leading to inefficiency.Social implicationsHearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in humans today. Worldwide, it is the second leading cause for “Years lived with Disability” the first being depression. A recent study by World health organization estimates nearly 450 million people in the world had been disabled by hearing loss, and the prevalence of hearing impairment in India is around 6.3% (63 million people suffering from significant auditory loss).Originality/valueThe objective is to reduce the time taken for CS reconstruction with minimal degradation to the reconstructed signal. Also, the solution must be adaptive to different characteristics of the signal and in presence of different types of noises.

Validation of Indian Council of Medical Research Neurocognitive Tool Box in Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment in India: Lessons from a Harmonization Process in a Linguistically Diverse Society

Background/Aims: In a linguistically diverse country such as India, challenges remain with regard to diagnosis of early cognitive decline among the elderly, with no prior attempts made to simultaneously validate a comprehensive battery of tests across domains in multiple languages. This study aimed to determine the utility of the Indian Council of Medical Research-Neurocognitive Tool Box (ICMR-NCTB) in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its vascular subtype (VaMCI) in 5 Indian languages. Methods: Literate subjects from 5 centers across the country were recruited using a uniform process, and all subjects were classified based on clinical evaluations and a gold standard test protocol into normal cognition, MCI, and VaMCI. Following adaptation and harmonization of the ICMR-NCTB across 5 different Indian languages into a composite Z score, its test performance against standards, including sensitivity and specificity of the instrument as well as of its subcomponents in diagnosis of MCI, was evaluated in age and education unmatched and matched groups. Results: Variability in sensitivity-specificity estimates was noted between languages when a total of 991 controls and 205 patients with MCI (157 MCI and 48 VaMCI) were compared due to a significant impact of age, education, and language. Data from a total of 506 controls, 144 patients with MCI, and 46 patients with VaMCI who were age- and education-matched were compared. Post hoc analysis after correction for multiple comparisons revealed better performance in controls relative to all-cause MCI. An optimum composite Z-score of −0.541 achieved a sensitivity of 81.1% and a specificity of 88.8% for diagnosis of all-cause MCI, with a high specificity for diagnosis of VaMCI. Using combinations of multiple-domain 2 test subcomponents retained a sensitivity and specificity of >80% for diagnosis of MCI. Conclusions: The ICMR-NCTB is a “first of its kind” approach at harmonizing neuropsychological tests across 5 Indian languages for the diagnosis of MCI due to vascular and other etiologies. Utilizing multiple-domain subcomponents also retains the validity of this instrument, making it a valuable tool in MCI research in multilingual settings.

Indian Medicinal Herbs and Formulations for Alzheimer's Disease, from Traditional Knowledge to Scientific Assessment.

Cognitive impairment, associated with ageing, stress, hypertension and various neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, is a major health issue. The present review focuses on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), since it is the most important cause of cognitive impairment. It is characterized by progressive memory loss, language deficits, depression, agitation, mood disturbances and psychosis. Although the hallmarks of AD are cholinergic dysfunction, β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangle formation, it is also associated with derangement of other neurotransmitters, elevated levels of advanced glycation end products, oxidative damage, neuroinflammation, genetic and environmental factors. On one hand, this complex etiopathology makes a response to commonly used drugs such as donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine less predictable and often unsatisfactory. On the other hand, it supports the use of herbal medicines due to their nonspecific antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and specific cholinesterase inhibitory activity. The popularity of herbal medicines is also increasing due to their perceived effectiveness, safety and affordability. In the present article, the experimental and clinical evidence have been reviewed for various Indian herbal medicines such as Centella asiatica, Bacopa monnieri, Curcuma longa, Clitoria ternatea, Withania somnifera, Celastrus paniculatus, Evolvulus alsinoides, Desmodium gangeticum, Eclipta alba, Moringa oleifera and Convolvulus pluricaulis, which have shown potential in cognitive impairment. Some commonly available herbal formulations for memory impairment in India have also been reviewed.

A study on prevalence of dementia among elderly population in rural health training centre field practice area of Nalgonda

Background: Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. Dementia has physical, psychological, social and economic impact. Worldwide prevalence of dementia in elderly population of more than 60 years is 5-8%. Prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in India is 14.89%. Present study aim was to estimate the prevalence of dementia and the risk factors associated with dementia among elderly population in rural field practice area of Nalgonda district.Methods: A descriptive, community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 119 elderly population in the field practice area of Rural Health Training Centre by simple random sampling method, with the help of a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 19. MMSE (mini mental status examination) questionnaire was used to screen for dementia. Barthel index was used to assess the dependency status.Results: Demographic profile of the study population of 119, males 65 (54.62%), females 54 (45.38%). Majority of their source of income were government service pension 30 (25.21%) and old age pension 70 (58.82%). 56 (47.06%) of elderly population living with family and 63 (52.94%) people were living individually. The study revealed the prevalence of cognitive impairment is 35.3%. Risk factors like middle age obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, social isolation showed significant association with dementia.Conclusions: Dementia can be prevented by early diagnosis and promoting physical health and treating behavioural and psychological symptoms. Risk of dementia can be reduced by following regular exercise, diet, quitting smoking and alcohol.