Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40204308›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment among the older prisoner population in England and Wales: a cross-sectional study.

Katrina Forsyth, Baber Malik, Roger Webb, Leanne Heathcote, Laura Archer-Power, Richard Emsley, Jane Senior, Rachel Domone, Salman Karim, Adrian Hayes and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Katrina ForsythThe University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Katrina.Forsyth@manchester.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9980-9464
Baber MalikThe University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Roger WebbSchool of Community Based Medicine, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Leanne HeathcoteHealth & Justice Research Network, The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Manchester, UK.
Laura Archer-PowerLancashire Police, Manchester, UK.
Richard EmsleyDepartment of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Jane SeniorUniversity of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Rachel DomoneLancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK.
Salman KarimLancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK.
Adrian HayesSomerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, UK.
Matthew J CarrUniversity of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Alistair BurnsDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Jennifer ShawOffender Health Research Network, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo estimate the prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the older prisoner population in England and Wales and to establish risk of harm to self and others, activity of daily living needs and social networks of prisoners with likely MCI and dementia.

designWe screened 869 older prisoners (aged 50 years and older) using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Participants testing positive on the MoCA (≤23) were interviewed using the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination, Third Revision (ACE-III) and a range of standardised assessments were used to assess risks of externalised violence and of self-harm; activities of daily living needs; mental health needs; history and symptoms of brain injury (if applicable) and social networks.

settingThe sample was drawn randomly from women's prisons (n=10) and a representative range of adult men's prisons (n=11) across England and Wales.

participantsParticipants were aged 50 or over and resident in one of the participating prison establishments on the study's census day.

main outcome measureACE-III.

resultsWe recruited 596 men and 273 women prisoners. Across the whole sample of older prisoners, the prevalence of dementia was 7.0% (95% CI 5.5%, 8.9%) (when weighted for sex and age), with the highest prevalence found among prisoners aged 70 years and older at 11.8% (95% CI 8.0%, 17.1%). The prevalence of dementia for men was 7.0% (95% CI 5.2%, 9.4%) and for women was 6.0% (95% CI 3.8%, 9.5%). Only two individuals (3%) who screened positively on the MoCA had a diagnosis of dementia in their prison healthcare notes, suggesting current under-recognition. The prevalence of MCI was 0.8% (95% CI 0.4% to 1.7%, weighted by age). Of those who screened positively on the MoCA, 32 (46%) participants had a high or very high risk of harm to self or others, and 70 (35%) had no friends with whom they could talk to about private matters or to call on for help (n=35, 50%).

conclusionsApproximately 1020 older adults living in prison have symptoms of likely dementia, and service provision for this group is inadequate.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionDementiaPrisonersActivities of Daily LivingAgedAged, 80 and overCross-Sectional StudiesEnglandFemaleHumansMaleMental Status and Dementia TestsMiddle AgedPrevalenceWalesDementiaPrevalencePrisons

Identifiers

PMID40204308
PMCPMC11987132

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Registered trials

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