Trends in the prevalence of dementia in LMIC: findings from 10/66 studies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundPopulation ageing will lead to a dramatic increase in dementia prevalence globally. Recent evidence suggest a decline in dementia incidence in High Income Countries due to increasing education levels and improvements in cardiovascular health. Although, most of the increase will occur in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs), there are no recent estimates of dementia prevalence and incidence in LMICs. The present study aimed to examine new trends on dementia prevalence and incidence in Latin‐America and associations of socioeconomic determinants and cardiovascular risk factors.MethodSample size included older adults from Latin America (Cuba, Dominican Republic [DR], Puerto Rico [PR], and Mexico) drawn from the 10/66 Dementia Research Group study. We compare wave 1 (2003‐2006) with wave 3 (2016‐2019) of 10/66 studies. The main outcome was dementia prevalence relative to previous waves. Dementia diagnosis was determined according to 10/66 dementia criteria. All the 10/66 waves used the same standardized assessments and protocols.ResultDementia prevalence is stable Cuba, standardized dementia prevalence rates was 12.4% in wave I and 10.1% in wave III. Relative to wave I, Dominican Republic (wave I 11.5% vs wave II 13.6%), Peru (wave I 9.2% vs wave II 16.8%) and Mexico (wave 1 8.3% vs wave 2 17.1%) experience a significant increase in dementia prevalence. Despite, improvements in levels of education, increases in dementia prevalence were associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity and heart disease in the later‐born cohorts. Self‐reported stroke is also rising.ConclusionThe prevalence of dementia in the older Latin American and Caribbean population is high and increasing relative to the previous decade. These findings may inform health promotion efforts within dementia national plans adopted recently in some Latin American countries