Objective:

To determine the Prevalence of mental retardation in children 3 to 10 years of age.

Materials and Methods:

The study was conducted in the framework of a population based, single centre, cross-sectional study at R.S.Pura town, 22 kms south- west of Jammu city.

Results:

A total of 61 (0.79 percent) of the 7,707 children surveyed had positive screening results on the Ten Questions instrument. 56 (0.72percent) children were diagnosed as suffering from mental retardation. Serious mental retardation was diagnosed in 48 children and mild mental retardation was diagnosed in 8 children. The combined prevalence estimates of mild and serious mental retardation were 7.2/1000. No notable sex differences were observed for either serious or mild retardation.

Interpretation:

The prevalence rates of mental retardation among children less than 19 years of age in R. S. town compares favorably with studies from developed world.

Background:

Mishriwala is one of five exclusive clusters of Kashmiri migrants established in 1990 to accommodate Kashmiri Pandit families who left Kashmir valley in the wake of militancy. Mishriwala migrant camp has seen minimal immigration and out-migration since its establishment. In an earlier study we reported on the prevalence of dementia amongst a Kashmiri migrant population. That study was conducted in the migrant camp at Mishriwala, 12 km west of Jammu city, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir State. We have developed standardized study methods and instruments for use in the Kashmiri-speaking population, which we used for screening for dementia during the prevalence study. We now report the results of a 1-year prospective study carried out to find out the incidence of dementia in the same population.

Aim:

To ascertain the incidence of dementiain the Kashmiri Pandit population aged 60 years and above.

Materials and Methods:

A 1-year, prospective, epidemiological study of 186 subjects aged 60 years and above, using cognitive and functional ability screening and clinical evaluation.

Results:

The incidence of dementia in this population was 5.34 cases per 1000 person-years.

Background:

Neurological diseases are common disorders resulting in the loss of productive life and disability. Dementia is becoming a major public health problem in the developing world also.

Aim:

To ascertain the prevalence of dementia among Kashmiri Pandit population aged 60 years and above.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the elderly population of the Kashmiris living in a migrant camp. We developed and used a Kashmiri version of the Mini-Mental State Examination as the test instrument, and a score below 24 was considered indicative of dementia. A functional ability questionnaire was also administered to the subjects. A neurologist carried out the examinations.

Results:

A sample comprising 200 subjects (95 males and 105 females) were evaluated. The prevalence of dementia is 6.5% among the Kashmiri Pandit population aged 60 years and above, which is higher than that reported from other parts of India.