A study published in JAMA Neurology by researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and Newcastle University in the UK found that the proportion of older adults living with dementia has risen substantially in Puerto Rico and several other Latin American and Caribbean areas over recent decades, contrasting with declines seen in wealthier countries. The team analyzed data on nearly 17,000 adults aged 65 and older in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico, collected first in the early 2000s and again roughly 20 years later, using the multinational 10/66 Dementia Research Group's household survey method.
In Mexico, Peru, and Puerto Rico, dementia prevalence rose significantly, from about one in ten older adults to nearly one in six, while rates stayed stable in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Researchers link the increase to rising obesity and poor control of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in the region. They note that Cuba's stable rates offer hope, suggesting prevention is possible through healthier lifestyles.
In contrast, dementia prevalence has remained stable or declined in some high-income countries, including the United States, likely due to improved education access and healthier lifestyles that support better blood pressure, cardiac, and metabolic health.