Work

Dementia research priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean: findings from a multi-country stakeholder survey

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Dementia is an escalating public health challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where ageing populations intersect with constrained health systems and limited region-specific evidence. We conducted a cross-sectional, multi-country, stakeholder-engaged survey across 25 countries to identify dementia research priorities, ranking 11 predefined domains identified through a structured literature review aligned with the WHO Dementia Research Blueprint. Among 842 respondents, stakeholder roles included the general public (28.6%), healthcare professionals (24.1%), researchers (21.6%), caregivers (22.7%), policymakers (1.6%), and people living with cognitive impairment or dementia (1.3%); roles were not mutually exclusive. Prevention and risk reduction and early diagnosis ranked as the two highest priorities across all groups. Secondary priorities varied: healthcare professionals emphasized pharmacological treatments, caregivers person-centred care, and policymakers professional skills development. These findings indicate consistency in prioritizing prevention and early diagnosis across stakeholder groups, while highlighting complementary perspectives that can inform more balanced, context-responsive research agendas across LAC.

Source: npj Dementia

DOI: 10.1038/s44400-026-00153-0