Epidemiology of dementia onset captured in Canadian primary care electronic medical records.

Dementias are conditions that may cause mental symptoms such as forgetfulness, confusion, or disorientation. As the population gradually ages, the number of dementia cases is also increasing. Among people aged 65 and over, the rate of dementia onset increases as people get older. However, among people aged 85 and over, the rate of developing dementia is slower, which might reflect that people who reach the age of 85 are usually healthier in general. Since family practitioners are normally the first contact when patients and their family notice symptoms, primary care plays an important role in diagnosing and managing dementia. Early recognizing dementia for early support is very helpful. According to our study, health-related information recorded in primary care in Canada is sufficient to be used for research. It is a valuable opportunity to study the characteristics of people with dementia, including their health conditions, risks and protective factors that may contribute to the development of the disease.