Caribbean Dementia cases could nearly triple by 2050

CARIBBEAN REGION--The number of people living with dementia across the Caribbean could rise by approximately 155 percent by 2050, increasing from an estimated 291,800 people in 2019 to about 744,800, according to projections highlighted in a growing regional push for stronger dementia and brain health policies.

The projections are helping drive a regional initiative led by Caribbean researcher Dr. Ishtar Govia through Amagi, which is seeking to move dementia beyond being treated primarily as a private family or health-sector issue and place brain health, ageing, care systems and economic implications higher on the Caribbean policy agenda.

The initiative is preparing a Caribbean Brain Health Summit scheduled for November 16 to 22, 2026, bringing together representatives from health, business, technology, civil society, creative industries and Caribbean communities at home and in the diaspora. A scientific meeting is also planned for Jamaica in February 2027 to connect researchers, clinicians and policymakers around evidence relevant to Caribbean populations.

Govia has argued that dementia cannot be considered solely a medical issue because its effects extend into employment, family finances, public budgets, social protection and the ability of relatives, particularly caregivers, to remain in the workforce. She has also emphasized the challenges faced by Caribbean families providing care across borders, often coordinating medical appointments, finances and family decisions from overseas.

Amagi’s approach is intended to connect work already taking place across the region rather than import a single outside model. Plans include developing shared regional structures, strengthening cooperation among organizations, working across sectors such as health, social care, banking, tourism and technology, and building a long-term communication strategy around dementia and brain health.

The regional effort comes as research points to significant changes in dementia prevalence across parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. A two-decade study involving 16,950 adults aged 65 and older in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico found that crude dementia prevalence across the study sites increased from 10.6 percent in 2003-2006 to 16.9 percent in 2016-2020.

Research specific to Caribbean populations is also expanding. Washington University School of Medicine has launched the Caribbean Omics and Genomics for Alzheimer Study, known as CONGAS, supported by a five-year US$12 million grant from the National Institute on Aging. The project is examining genetic and molecular factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease among approximately 5,000 participants in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Spain.

Regional discussions have also begun around diagnosis, health system preparedness and policy. The World Dementia Council held two Caribbean-focused virtual dialogues in April 2025, with Govia co-chairing discussions on improving dementia diagnosis and health system preparedness, as well as policy, advocacy and public awareness.

Those discussions reflected broader concerns about gaps in diagnosis, care pathways, specialist capacity, financing and reliable health data across Caribbean countries. Preparedness varies across the region, but researchers and advocates have increasingly called for coordinated approaches that reflect Caribbean demographics, health systems and cultural realities.

Govia, founder and CEO of Amagi, has worked internationally in dementia research, brain health and policy. Her background includes work as a senior consultant in brain health at the World Health Organization, where she helped coordinate implementation work connected to the WHO Blueprint for Dementia Research. She is also a nominated member of the World Dementia Council.

The November summit is expected to broaden the conversation beyond clinicians and researchers to include families, caregivers, businesses, technology developers, development institutions and regional organizations. Amagi argues that Caribbean societies will increasingly have to consider dementia within discussions about workforce participation, public spending, social care, ageing and economic resilience.

The initiative is also seeking greater involvement from people living with cognitive impairment and dementia, with Govia arguing that their experiences should form part of the design of policies and services rather than being added after decisions have already been made.

With the Caribbean population ageing and the number of dementia cases projected to grow substantially over the coming decades, the regional initiative is pushing for earlier planning, stronger data systems, better coordination and greater public discussion before the pressure on families and health systems becomes significantly greater.

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