Medical Centers for Dementia in Gunma:their activities and follow-up data

Haruyasu Yamaguchi¹⁾, Tomoko Nakajima²⁾, Haruka Uchida²⁾, Kazuhide Nonaka²⁾, Mie Matsumoto²⁾, Yohko Maki¹⁾, Tomoharu Yamaguchi¹⁾, Masamitsu Takatama²⁾

¹⁾Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences
²⁾Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital

    Purpose:To investigate activities of 10 Medical Centers for Dementia (MCDs) in Gunma prefecture, Japan:1 core-type and 9 regional-type.
    Methods:The numbers of consultation and differential diagnosis of 10 MCDs, were analyzed.  The results of the first and the 3 month follow-up medical examinations were compared in one regional-type MCD:cognitive function assessed using Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), behavior disturbance assessed using dementia behavior disturbance scale (DBD), and caregiver burden assessed using short form of Zarit Burden Interview (Zarit-8).
    Results:1) In Gunma prefecture, the total number of consultation increased up to 8,000 items/6,000 people per year, and that of differential diagnosis to 6,000 people/year.  2) In one regional-type MCD, the number of consultation was increased up to 100 people/month, and that of differential diagnosis to 60/month, which was 2 to 3 times higher than other regional-type MCDs in Gunma.  3) In 54 subjects excluding mild cognitive impairment (MCI), cognitive function (MMSE) improved significantly (p=0.009) from 18.51 +/− 5.26 to 19.66 +/− 5.63 after 3 months form the first visit. Subjects with intense behavior disturbance (DBD high score group) showed a significant decrease in the DBD scores from 25.15 +/− 8.59 to 20.87 +/− 10.99.
    Conclusion:In Gunma, MCDs were placed in each secondary medical area, and worked well to realize the concepts of the integrated community-care system, which are emphasized in the Japanese national dementia strategy, “Orange Plan”.

Address corresponence to Dr. Haruyasu Yamaguchi, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences(3-39-22 Showacho, Maebashi, 371-8514, Japan)