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Prevalence of dementia in Latin America: a collaborative study of population-based cohorts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2009

Ricardo Nitrini ,
Cássio M. C. Bottino ,
Cecilia Albala ,
Nilton Santos Custodio Capuñay ,
Carlos Ketzoian ,
Juan J. Llibre Rodriguez ,
Gladys E. Maestre ,
Ana Teresa A. Ramos-Cerqueira  and
Paulo Caramelli
Ricardo Nitrini
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
Cássio M. C. Bottino
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
Cecilia Albala
Affiliation:
INTA, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
Nilton Santos Custodio Capuñay
Affiliation:
Clinica Internacional, Lima, Peru
Carlos Ketzoian
Affiliation:
Institute of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
Juan J. Llibre Rodriguez
Affiliation:
Facultad de Medicina Finlay Albarrán, Universidad Medica de La Habana, Cuba
Gladys E. Maestre
Affiliation:
Neurosciences Laboratory, Institute for Biological Research, and Cardiovascular Institute, University of Zulia, Maracaibo Venezuela, and Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, U.S.A.
Ana Teresa A. Ramos-Cerqueira
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil
Paulo Caramelli*
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Paulo Caramelli, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av Prof. Alfredo Balena 190 – Room 246, 30.130-100, Belo Horizonte (MG) – Brazil. Phone: +55 31 3409-9746; Fax: +55 31 3409-9746. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: Dementia is becoming a major public health problem in Latin America (LA), yet epidemiological information on dementia remains scarce in this region. This study analyzes data from epidemiological studies on the prevalence of dementia in LA and compares the prevalence of dementia and its causes across countries in LA and attempts to clarify differences from those of developed regions of the world.

Methods: A database search for population studies on rates of dementia in LA was performed. Abstracts were also included in the search. Authors of the publications were invited to participate in this collaborative study by sharing missing or more recent data analysis with the group.

Results: Eight studies from six countries were included. The global prevalence of dementia in the elderly (≥65 years) was 7.1% (95% CI: 6.8–7.4), mirroring the rates of developed countries. However, prevalence in relatively young subjects (65–69 years) was higher in LA studies The rate of illiteracy among the elderly was 9.3% and the prevalence of dementia in illiterates was two times higher than in literates. Alzheimer's disease was the most common cause of dementia.

Conclusions: Compared with studies from developed countries, the global prevalence of dementia in LA proved similar, although a higher prevalence of dementia in relatively young subjects was evidenced, which may be related to the association between low educational level and lower cognitive reserve, causing earlier emergence of clinical signs of dementia in the LA elderly population.

Keywords

agingepidemiologyAlzheimer's diseasevascular dementiadeveloping countrieseducationilliteracy
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , August 2009 , pp. 622 - 630
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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