Across Latin America, dementia advocacy is gaining remarkable momentum. Two of the region’s largest countries, Argentina and Brazil, have taken decisive action toward establishing coordinated national responses to dementia. In Argentina, the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill creating the National Plan on Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias, while Brazil achieved a historic consensus to develop a national strategy aligned with the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan
These advances reflect the impact of sustained efforts by Alzheimer associations, civil society, and public health leaders, showing how years of advocacy are now translating into concrete policy action. As both countries move closer to implementing their first national dementia plans, they set powerful examples for the region to follow and help build a stronger, more united approach to dementia.
At the end of the month, Regional Director for the Americas, Diego Aguilar also joined the 6th Meeting of the Regional Conference on Population and Development of Latin America and the Caribbean, organised by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean(ECLAC) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Santiago de Chile, to take part in a series of high-level meetings aimed at advancing dementia policy across the region.
Argentinian Dementia Bill receives first approval in the Chamber of Deputies
In the early hours of October 9, Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies approved the Bill creating the National Plan on Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias, marking a historic milestone for dementia policy in the country and across Latin America.
With broad cross-party support ,131 votes in favour, 2 against and 1 abstention, the bill now moves to the Senate for its final approval. Once enacted, it will establish the foundations for a coordinated national response to dementia, promoting prevention, timely diagnosis, care, research, and support for families and caregivers.
ADI warmly welcomes this progress and extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Facundo Manes, national deputy and neuroscientist, whose leadership and commitment were instrumental in driving the initiative forward. ADI also wishes to recognise ALMA (Asociación Lucha contra el Mal de Alzheimer y Alteraciones Semejantes de la República Argentina), ADI’s official member in Argentina since 1989, for its tireless work and advocacy over more than three decades, paving the way for this national milestone.
Diego said: .
This is a day of hope for thousands of families across Argentina. The approval of this bill by the Chamber of Deputies sends a powerful message to the region: that dementia must be addressed as a national priority, through solidarity, science, and shared responsibility. As the bill now advances to the Senate, we are confident that Argentina’s leadership will inspire other countries in the Americas to continue advancing toward their own national dementia plans.
This recent development brings Argentina closer to the implementation of a National Dementia Plan, and reflects years of advocacy by civil society organizations, professionals, and families, and demonstrates growing recognition of dementia as a public health and human rights priority.
ADI remains committed to supporting Argentina in this process and looks forward to hearing further developments from the Argentinian Senate soon.
Brazil convenes high-level seminar to develop its first National Dementia Plan
Brazil has taken an important step towards the development of its first National Dementia Plan through the recent pactuação, a formal agreement among key sectors led by the National Dementia Coalition (CONADE) to move forward with the creation of a national strategy aligned with the WHO Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017–2031.
What comes next is critical: securing the endorsement of the Ministry of Health so that the Plan can be formally developed, funded, and implemented across the country.
These next steps were at the centre of discussion during the 1st International Seminar on Public Policies in Dementia, held this week at the PAHO/WHO headquarters in Brasília, organised by the Associação Brasileira de Alzheimer (ABRAz) and PAHO/WHO, with the support of the Federação Brasileira das Associações de Alzheimer (FEBRAz), ADI’s member association in Brazil.
The two-day seminar brought together government officials, researchers, and civil society leaders to explore how Brazil can transform its recent consensus into concrete action. International experts from Mexico, Chile, Israel, and the United Kingdom also shared experiences on developing and implementing national dementia strategies.
Diego highlighted:
Brazil has achieved a remarkable milestone by building consensus and political will around dementia. The next challenge is to translate that commitment into an endorsed, funded, and actionable plan — one that can truly change the lives of millions of families.
The seminar concluded with the presentation of the Brasília Declaration, a call to action urging all sectors, government, academia, civil society, and the private entities, to support the Ministry of Health in advancing the next stage: the official development and implementation of Brazil’s National Dementia Plan. The Declaration positions dementia as both a public health and human rights priority, reaffirming Brazil’s emerging leadership in the region and its commitment to people living with dementia and their carers.
ADI commends ABRAz, FEBRAz, PAHO/WHO Brazil, and the Ministry of Health for their continued leadership and collaboration.
Progress in Chile: Strengthening Regional Action on Dementia
During the 6th Meeting of the Regional Conference on Population and Development of Latin America and the Caribbean, organised by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Santiago de Chile, Diego Aguilar, Regional Director for the Americas, joined the discussions led by Simone Cecchini and his team at the Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Centre (CELADE), Population Division of ECLAC, where the new report “Persons with Disabilities: From Statistical Visibility to the Exercise of Rights” was presented. The report highlights that 6.5% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean lives with a disability, with higher prevalence among older adults, women, and rural populations, groups also carrying a disproportionate share of unpaid care work.
Diego emphasised that among those figures are nearly 10 million people living with dementia, whose rights are still too often overlooked, both as people with disabilities and as people affected by a major noncommunicable disease.
While in Santiago, Diego held a productive meeting with PAHO Chile Country Representative Dr. Giovanni Escalante Guzmán, along with teams from the Department of Mental Health and the Division of Primary Care of Chile’s Ministry of Health, as well as members of the board of Corporación Alzheimer Chile, ADI’s member organisation in the country, and the Chilean Neurological Society.
The discussions focused on strengthening Chile’s existing National Dementia Plan, including the development of day centres, the promotion of risk-factor prevention, and the improvement of information systems. As part of the regional dialogue, Diego delivered an intervention during the ECLAC plenary, highlighting the importance of adopting an intergenerational and life-course approach to demographic change and viewing dementia not only as a challenge of ageing, but as a condition that reflects health and social inequalities across the life span.
Diego also engaged in productive conversations with government representatives from Uruguay, Curaçao, and Barbados on national dementia policy and cooperation opportunities.
On the conference, Diego said:
What’s happening in Chile shows that when governments, civil society, and international partners work together, progress on dementia is possible. We need to make sure these examples inspire similar action in other parts of Latin America, from policy to practice.
With these meetings, ADI continues to reinforce its commitment to ensuring that dementia is fully integrated into disability, ageing, care, and sustainable development agendas across Latin America and the Caribbean.