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Community-based dementia screening initiative in Brunei: pilot study
Shyh Poh Teo, Jie Lei, Min Han, Siti Munawwarah Tarif, Norhayati Kassim, Nurul Bazilah Ali, Asmah Husaini. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2025-07-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective. To screen older people and /or those with risk factors for dementia in the community to identify risk factors and possible symptoms of dementia Methods. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among older people aged 60 years and older or aged 50 years and older with non-communicable diseases or risk factors for developing dementia. Participants were recruited from Senior Citizen Activity Centres and other areas where older people meet in the community, such as marketplaces. Participants completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire regarding self-reported dementia risk factors, cognitive symptoms, concerns regarding symptoms and a brief cognitive assessment tool (Mini-COG). This approach was piloted in the Senior Citizen Activity Centres.Results. There were 178 participants, median age 67 years with two-thirds being female. Two-thirds had hypertension and over 40% had hypercholesterolaemia. The most commonly reported symptoms were misplacing things (41.6%), visuospatial difficulties (22.7%) and forgetfulness (20.8%). Among those with symptoms, 7.3% reported worsening symptoms, 5.1% had impaired activities of daily living, and 22.5% thought they should get their cognition assessed. For the Mini-COG, 65% recalled all 3 words, while a quarter made at least one error in the clock-drawing test. Conclusions. Community-based dementia screening using a questionnaire on risk factors, cognitive symptoms and the Mini-COG was feasible and acceptable in Brunei. Despite participants being socially active, there was a surprisingly high prevalence of risk factors for dementia and symptoms of possible cognitive impairment. Further roll-out of the community screening is planned in other locations.
Key findings
- This approach was piloted in the Senior Citizen Activity Centres.Results.
Why it matters
This pilot study screened older adults in Brunei for dementia risk factors and symptoms using a brief cognitive tool. It is a small cross-sectional pilot and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants178
- Effect size41.6%; 22.7%; 20.8%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics: journal h-index 12 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 178 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 0 / 4 | Last-listed author Asmah Husaini: h-index 4 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Universiti Brunei Darussalam: institution h-index 265 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.36150/2499-6564-n838
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Teo, S. P., Lei, J., Han, M., Tarif, S. M., Kassim, N., Ali, N. B., et al. (2025). Community-based dementia screening initiative in Brunei: pilot study. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.36150/2499-6564-n838
Vancouver
Teo SP, Lei J, Han M, Tarif SM, Kassim N, Ali NB, et al. Community-based dementia screening initiative in Brunei: pilot study. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 2025. doi:10.36150/2499-6564-n838.
BibTeX
@article{teo2025-fdbe5007,
author = {Teo, Shyh Poh and Lei, Jie and Han, Min and Tarif, Siti Munawwarah and Kassim, Norhayati and Ali, Nurul Bazilah and Husaini, Asmah},
title = {{Community-based dementia screening initiative in Brunei: pilot study}},
journal = {Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.36150/2499-6564-n838},
url = {https://doi.org/10.36150/2499-6564-n838}
}
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