Dementia in Latin America: Epidemiological Evidence and Implications for Public Policy
Date
2017
Type:
Artículo
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11
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Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers Research Foundation
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Abstract
Population aging is among the most important global transformations. Today, 12% of the
world population is of age 60 and over and by the middle of this century this segment will
represent 21.5%. The increase in population of those aged 80 and over, also referred to
as the “oldest old” or the “very elderly”, will be even more pronounced, going from 1.7%
of the population to 4.5% within the same period. Compared to European and North
American countries, Latin America (LA) is experiencing this unprecedented demographic
change at a significantly faster rate. Due to demographic and health transitions, the
number of people with dementia will rise from 7.8 million in 2013 to over 27 million
by 2050. Nowadays, the global prevalence of dementia in LA has reached 7.1%, with
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) being the most frequent type. This level is similar to those
found in developed countries; however, the dementia rate is twice as high as that of
the 65–69 years age group in developed countries. In addition, the prevalence and
incidence of dementia is higher among illiterate people. Mortality rates due to dementia
have risen considerably. The burden and costs of the disease are high and must be
covered by patients’ families. The prevention of dementia and the development of longterm
care policies and plans for people with dementia in LA, which take into account
regional differences and similarities, should be urgent priorities.
Description
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Citation
Custodio N, Wheelock A, Thumala D, Slachevsky A. Dementia in Latin America: Epidemiological Evidence and Implications for Public Policy. Front Aging Neurosci. 2017 Jul 13;9:221.
Keywords
Latin America, dementia, epidemiology, public policy, Alzheimer, dementia plan, caregiver burden, cost of dementia