Trends in Dementia Prevalence Across Latin America and the Caribbean

Has dementia prevalence changed over 2 decades across Latin America?In this cross-sectional study of 16 950 adults aged 65 years or older across 5 Latin American catchment areas, dementia prevalence increased from 10.6% in 2003 to 2006 to 16.9% in 2016 to 2020. Age- and sex-standardized prevalence increased substantially in Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico while remaining stable in Cuba and the Dominican Republic.These findings suggest that dementia prevalence is rising across several Latin American settings, contrasting with declining trends in high-income countries and underscoring the need for risk reduction strategies at a population level.

Corresponding Author: Jorge J. Llibre-Guerra, MD, MSc, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, 4488 Forest Park Ave, Office 328, St Louis, MO 63108 (jllibre-guerra@wustl.edu).

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