Latin America Makes Progress in Preventing Dementia

A summit of experts in Buenos Aires discussed the conclusions of LatAm-FINGERS, the first randomized clinical trial in Latin America evaluating an integrated intervention on lifestyle habits to prevent dementia. The study showed improvements in cognitive abilities in older adults who participated in an intensive program for two years. The meeting focused on modifiable factors influencing dementia risk, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and social isolation. The LatAm-FINGERS program included two levels of accompaniment, with one group showing a 55% improvement in memory, processing speed, and executive functions. The results suggest that a preventive strategy can be sustained in heterogeneous social and health contexts if it has professional follow-up and accessible proposals.