Stability of the global prevalence of dementia in the elderly population has been documented. However, the decreased prevalence found in elderly men stimulated environmental hypotheses.

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-Background:There is a pressing need to identify environmental risk factors of dementia and depression in the elderly.Aims: To describe the methods and first results of the ZARADEMP Project, the first psychiatric study to document risk factors in incident cases of dementia (and depression) in a Southern European elderly population.Method: A three-wave (baseline and two follow-up waves) epidemiological study to identify incident cases of dementia (and depression) was completed in a representative sample population. Valid Spanish versions of case-finding instruments, including the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) were administered by standardized researchers. The incident cases, diagnosed by a panel of psychiatrists using DSM-IV criteria, will be included in a case-control study. Conclusions: We feel confident that modern epidemiological requirements have been fulfilled and the statistical power in the calculations of risk will be acceptable.

Despite an improved functional status of MO-TLIF patients in the short term, the clinical outcomes of mini-open TLIF at the 3- to 4-year follow-up showed no clinically relevant differences to those obtained with open TLIF.