Ampil ER, Fook-Chong S, Sodagar SN, Chen CP, Auchus AP. Ethnic variability in dementia: results from Singapore. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2005 Oct-Dec;19(4):184-5.

The diversity of Singapore's population affords a unique opportunity to study ethnic variability in the dementias. We sought to explore the effects of ethnicity on the frequency of Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia in a large Singaporean sample. A total of 357 patients were studied: 190 with vascular dementia and 167 with Alzheimer disease. Vascular dementia was more common among Chinese and Malays, whereas Alzheimer disease was more common in Indians and Eurasians. Factors that may contribute to the observed ethnic variability in dementia etiologies include differential frequency of the ApoE-e4 allele, frequency of vascular risk factors, lifestyle choices, and cultural attitudes toward health care utilization.

Kua EH, Ko SM. The ageing of elderly people. Singapore Med J. 1994 Aug;35(4):386-9.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of activities of daily living, social resources and incidence of dementia in a cohort of elderly Chinese. DESIGN: This was a longitudinal study which measured changes in a five-year interval. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Henderson district of Singapore at the subjects' homes and at a day centre. SUBJECTS: A random sample of elderly Chinese was selected in 1985 from the electoral roll of the Henderson constituency and reassessed after 5 years. OUTCOME MEASURES: A semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Older American Resources and Services, and the computerised mental state programme, GMS-AGECAT. RESULTS: There was no apparent change in social resources after 5 years and the majority of the elderly (80.3%) were still living with their families. On activities of daily living, there was a significant decline especially after the age of 75. The incidence of dementia was 2.01%--the rate of Alzheimer's disease was 0.67% and multi-infarct dementia 1.34%. CONCLUSION: The change in performance of activities of daily living after the age of 75 and the low incidence of dementia were similar to studies in Europe and the United States.