Functional disability associated with major neurologic disorders. Findings from the Copiah County Study

A. F. Haerer, D. W. Anderson and B. S. Schoenberg

The prevalence of functional disability in persons with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and severe dementia was assessed in a survey of every household in Copiah County, Mississippi, and all chronic-care institutions serving that county. Of the 23,842 residents evaluated, 246 had moderate to severe functional impairment accompanied by one or more of the aforementioned neurological disorders; 108 were not fully ambulatory; 59 required constant supervision because of cognitive difficulties; 54 were having at least one afebrile seizure monthly; and 25 experienced some combination of these impairments. Overall, prevalence ratios for these impairments increased markedly with age.