Abstract

LLIBRE RODRIGUEZ, Juan  and  GUTIERREZ HERRERA, Raúl Fernando. Dementias and Alzheimer's disease in Latin America and the Caribbean. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2014, vol.40, n.3, pp. 378-387. ISSN 0864-3466.

Although dementia is the leading cause of disability and the main causative factor of dependence in the elderly, and of economic burden and psychological stress in the caregiver, it has not yet been prioritized in the same degree as other non-communicable chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, which have a greater impact on mortality. Some aspects related to the prevalence and the rise of number of people with dementia in Latin America and the Caribbean for 2030 were discussed in this paper. The impact of dementia as well as the knowledge about and control of its risk factors were also addressed, using perspective course of life from the conception and intrauterine life to the late age and the multifactoral approach, all of which could potentially lead to a reduction in the number of patients with dementia. Greater emphasis on prevention, broad access to education, better socioeconomic conditions, healthy lifestyles and control of cardiovascular risk factors to reduce the growing impact of dementia in the society are sustainable viable alternatives for the reduction of growing impact of dementias on the society.

Keywords : dementia; Alzheimer`s disease; epidemiology; risk factors; prevention.

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