{"id":2181,"date":"2025-08-25T10:02:22","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T15:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/invitronews.com\/beyond-forgetting-the-growing-impact-of-alzheimers-disease-in-latin-america\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T12:29:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T17:29:11","slug":"beyond-forgetting-the-growing-impact-of-alzheimer-s-disease-in-latin-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/invitronews.com\/en\/beyond-forgetting-the-growing-impact-of-alzheimer-s-disease-in-latin-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Forgetting: The Growing Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease in Latin America"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, represents a growing public health problem in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disorder impairs higher mental functions such as memory, language, orientation and judgment. Its prevalence increases exponentially with age, mainly affecting people over 65 years of age. Currently, more than 7.8 million people are living with some form of dementia in LAC, and it is estimated that this figure could reach 27 million by 2050, according to the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia<\/em>. <\/p>\n

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AD accounts for between 50% and 84% of these cases, and its impact is especially high in rural communities, people with low educational levels and older women.<\/p>\n

In his book The Second Half<\/em>, the physician and gerontologist Diego Bernardini states that aging should be understood from a new perspective: “the new longevity is not living longer, but living better, different, full, participating and integrated” (Bernardini, 2021). This perspective is key to understanding that AD affects not only the individual suffering from the disease, but also the family, community and social environment. Bernardini proposes that from the age of 50 onwards we should take an active role in the care of our mental and emotional health. <\/p>\n

This “second half” of life, as he calls it, should be a stage of reconstruction and prevention, not of inevitable deterioration.<\/p>\n

In Latin America, the incidence of dementia even exceeds that observed in Europe or North America. Studies published by The Lancet Global Health<\/em> reveal that factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, low schooling, sedentary lifestyles, depression and social isolation account for more than 50% of dementia cases in the region. Prevalence can reach 21% in people with no formal education, compared to 9% in those with basic education, according to a regional meta-analysis published in 2021. <\/p>\n

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In Colombia, AD represents a rapidly growing public health challenge due to demographic aging, lack of specialized infrastructure and gaps in diagnosis and care. It is estimated that currently more than 300,000 people are living with dementia in the country, with AD being the main cause in more than 60% of cases, according to data from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and studies published by the Colombian Association of Neurology. Although a unified national registry is still lacking, recent projections suggest that this figure could double in the next two decades if sustained prevention and care policies are not implemented. <\/p>\n

At the level of diagnosis and care, the country faces great challenges. Access to timely diagnosis is limited outside urban centers, and there is a notorious shortage of neurologists and geriatricians, especially in rural areas. In addition, primary care professionals rarely have adequate tools to identify cognitive impairment in early stages. The Ten-Year Public Health Plan 2012-2021 included Alzheimer’s disease among chronic noncommunicable diseases, but its concrete approach has been fragmented and not very operational in practice. Currently, there is no specific national plan for dementias, although organizations such as Alzheimer Colombia and the Caregiver Support Network have been promoting community and educational actions to improve early detection and support for family caregivers. <\/p>\n

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Access to early diagnosis is limited. Although there are standardized protocols for clinical and cognitive evaluation, most diagnoses are made late, when deterioration is already evident. In many Latin American countries, diagnosis is limited to urban centers with access to neurologists or geriatricians, leaving the first level of care (general practitioners) without adequate tools. In addition, neuropsychological tests are usually translations of European or Anglo-Saxon instruments, with little validation in rural, indigenous or low-education contexts, which affects their diagnostic sensitivity. In the face of these limitations, promising technologies are emerging. Biomarkers in blood -such as proteins, beta amyloid and ptau- are beginning to replace expensive PET or cerebrospinal fluid studies. These tests could facilitate less invasive and more affordable diagnostics in the near future. Mobile applications for self-administered cognitive assessments and telemedicine platforms that allow remote assessment of elderly people in remote areas are also being developed. Artificial intelligence tools applied to magnetic resonance imaging already show the ability to predict patterns of brain atrophy linked to Alzheimer’s before the onset of clinical symptoms. <\/p>\n

A paradigmatic case in the region is that of Colombia. There, the world’s highest concentration of people with hereditary AD, carriers of the PSEN1 E280A mutation, was identified. The international clinical trial Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative (API)<\/em>, developed between the Banner Institute and the University of Antioquia group, included young asymptomatic carriers. <\/p>\n

Although the drug crenezumab did not achieve significant clinical results, the study identified early biomarkers, protective genetic variants and a solid scientific basis for future primary prevention trials.<\/p>\n

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Caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease in Latin America continues to be a challenge. In most countries, the formal care system is insufficient, and the burden falls on families, especially women. In Brazil, for example, it has been estimated that the cost of informal care is three times the monthly minimum wage, forcing many families to face stress, impoverishment and isolation. <\/p>\n

Despite the efforts of countries such as Mexico, Chile, Cuba and Costa Rica, whose governments have promoted national dementia plans, these programs still face problems of funding, coverage and sustainability. In Argentina, even the national plan was discontinued in 2019. <\/p>\n

In this sense, Bernardini stresses that the care of chronically ill elderly people should be rethought as a collective work: “bonds, the environment and shared decisions are key to live well the second half of life” (Bernardini, 2021). This vision coincides with the most recent proposals of organizations such as the WHO and Alzheimer Iberoamerica, which insist on community care models, with trained caregivers, day centers for cognitive stimulation, and support networks for family members. <\/p>\n

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Finally, advances in companion robotics, home monitoring sensors, wearable technologies (wearables) and virtual assistants could represent an opportunity to ease the burden of care in homes with people with dementia. However, as Bernardini warns, these advances must be accompanied by inclusive policies that reduce digital divides and ensure equal access: “in Latin America, it is not enough that technology exists; it must be at the service of inclusion and not exclusion” (Bernardini, 2021). <\/p>\n

Conclusion <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Alzheimer’s is a silent storm that is advancing rapidly in Latin America, fueled by population aging, structural inequality and lack of sustained policies. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive approach: promoting healthy habits from an early age, investing in accessible diagnostic technology, strengthening the training of healthcare personnel, supporting family caregivers and, above all, building a new culture of aging, based on prevention, dignity and participation of the elderly. <\/p>\n

Bibliography<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-Allegri, R. F., & Garc\u00eda-Alberti, M. (2023). A task force for diagnosis and treatment of people with Alzheimer’s disease in Latin America<\/em>. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 19(S1), e056140. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/alz.056140<\/a><\/p>\n

-Arango, C., Lopera, F., Liu, F., et al. (2023). Crenezumab trial in presenilin 1 E280A mutation carriers in Colombia<\/em>. NEJM, 388, 1-14. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1056\/NEJMoa2214400<\/a><\/p>\n

-Bernardini, D. (2021). The second half<\/em>. Editorial Planeta. <\/p>\n

-Parra, M. A., et al. (2021). Dementia in Latin America: A regional action plan<\/em>. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: TRCI, 7(1), e12202. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/trc2.12202<\/a><\/p>\n

-The Lancet Global Health Commission (2024). Dementia prevention in Latin America<\/em>. The Lancet Global Health, 12(5), e570-e582. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/S2214-109X(24)00275-4<\/a><\/p>\n

-Ventura, R. (2016). 400 answers to 400 questions about dementia<\/em>. Editorial Psiqui\u00e1trico de Montevideo. <\/p>\n

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, represents a growing public health problem in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disorder impairs higher mental functions such as memory, language, orientation and judgment. Its prevalence increases exponentially with age, mainly affecting people over 65 years of age. 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