Identification of incident dementia cases at follow-up
examination (2003/04) was performed using the same twophase procedure used for prevalent cases at baseline.
Additionally, information reliable enough to establish or
exclude a dementia diagnosis was sought for deceased and
refusers (from the subjects themselves, their relatives, and
their general practitioner).
Exclusion criteria for the present study were a baseline
diagnosis of dementia (n 5 60) or MMSE score less than 24
(n 5 72); baseline or follow-up unclassifiable cognitive status (n 5 22); missing laboratory (n 5 25) or MetS data
(n 5 25); and lack of information about cognitive status at
follow-up due to death (n 5 23), refusal (n 5 14), or failure
to be traced (n 5 26).