Dementia prevalence in Latin America and Caribbean

Medical experts and longitudinal research have highlighted a growing concern regarding dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, particularly within Latin American and Caribbean populations.

Initially, specialists warned against the social tendency to normalize cognitive decline as an inevitable part of aging. In Mexico, where approximately 1.3 million people suffer from dementia, experts noted that while risk increases after age 65, factors such as hypertension, sedentary lifestyles, and specific genetic mutations in regions like Altos de Jalisco play critical roles in early-onset cases.

Subsequent research published in JAMA Neurology confirmed rising dementia prevalence across several regions. A study of adults aged 65 and older in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico found that in Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico, rates increased from roughly one in 10 to nearly one in six over a 20-year period. This trend contrasts with wealthier nations where rates have declined due to improved cardiovascular health and education. Researchers emphasized that managing cardiovascular health during midlife is essential, as biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s may begin 10 to 20 years before symptoms manifest.