A new type of epidemiological study: questionnaire administered by medical personnel.

Doctors, nurses, and medical and nursing students administered a questionnaire on memory disturbances, tremor and clumsiness in their first-degree relatives who live or lived near them. We obtained data on 1,479 relatives, of whom 805 were alive and 674 had died. Of those alive and older than 65, 8.69% had severe memory disturbances, 1.11% a parkinsonian syndrome and 5.59% essential tremor. Of those who had died, 10.68% had suffered from severe memory disturbances before they died. The results of both groups are similar and in accordance with the data in the literature. In our opinion this new type of epidemiological study can be very useful in diseases which are easily detected by nonspecialists and in areas with hospitals and medical schools.