Dementia in Latin America: Paving the way toward a regional action plan

Abstract

Across Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs), the fight against dementia faces pressing challenges, such as heterogeneity, diversity, political instability, and socioeconomic disparities. These can be addressed more effectively in a collaborative setting that fosters open exchange of knowledge. In this work, the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC‐CD) proposes an agenda for integration to deliver a Knowledge to Action Framework (KtAF). First, we summarize evidence‐based strategies (epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical trials, nonpharmacological interventions, networking, and translational research) and align them to current global strategies to translate regional knowledge into transformative actions. Then we characterize key sources of complexity (genetic isolates, admixture in populations, environmental factors, and barriers to effective interventions), map them to the above challenges, and provide the basic mosaics of knowledge toward a KtAF. Finally, we describe strategies supporting the knowledge creation stage that underpins the translational impact of KtAF.

The power of knowledge about dementia in Latin America across health professionals working on aging

“…Our survey of experts in aging indicates a strong dementia knowledge gap that may have a negative impact on multiple levels. Government and regional NGOs may benefit from the present findings by focusing on specific coordinated actions to increase transmission, accessibility, and knowledge of public policies and dementia expertise 47,48 . In addition, the impact of stigma could benefit from educational programs on dementia in LAC, as suggested recently 1 .…”

The Latin America and the Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD): From Networking to Research to Implementation Science

“…Among these, neurodegenerative diseases pose perhaps one of the most daunting. While dementia has been declared a global health priority [1][2][3][4][5][6][7], the perils are particularly acute for LACs [1,2,[8][9][10][11]. The demographic structure of LACs is rapidly approaching that of developed countries, and it is predicted that the prevalence of dementia in the region will exceed the global estimates, with a projected increase of between 77% to 146% [12,13].…”

“…Such knowledge has supported successful large grant applications and has informed a new action framework that aims to transform the dementia landscape in LAC. Modified and reproduced with permission from [1].…”

“…Experts were also asked to deliver their views about a feasible timeline to address these challenges and actions (0-5 or 5-10 years) (% = Mean % of responses). Reproduced with authorization from [1]. Fig.…”

“…This approach comprises a biomarker framework (LAC-BF), genetics and epidemiology workgroup (LAC-GEW), dementia platform (LAC-DP), clinical trial program (LAC-CTP), nonpharmacological interventions (LAC-NPI), and an LAC network for translational research (LAC-NTR). Reproduced with authorization from [1].…”