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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Sep;26(9):1710-1720.
doi: 10.1080/13607863.2021.2003297. Epub 2021 Nov 29.

The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fabiana Silva Ribeiro  1 , Ana Carolina Teixeira-Santos  1 , Anja K Leist  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fabiana Silva Ribeiro et al. Aging Ment Health. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Objectives: The population of Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) is ageing rapidly, presenting the highest prevalence rates of dementia in the world. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate condition between normal ageing, Alzheimer's disease, and related dementias. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the prevalence of MCI in LAC countries and explore factors associated with MCI (i.e. age, sex/gender, and education).

Method: A database search was conducted in September 2020 using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, SciELO, EMBASE, and medRxiv for population- or community-based studies, published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

Results: From 2,155 screened studies, we selected reports including subjects with a precise diagnosis of MCI. A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, adding up to 20,220 participants in nine countries: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Costa Rica. Estimates for all-type MCI prevalence ranged from 6.8% to 25.5% and amnestic MCI between 3.1% and 10.5%. Estimates differed by age and education, with oldest and lower-educated adults presenting higher MCI prevalence.

Conclusion: This first systematic review of the prevalence of MCI discusses the population strata with the highest potential to benefit from dementia risk reduction interventions in LAC countries.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow diagram of the study selection.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Meta-analysis of prevalence (A) all-type MCI and (B) amnestic MCI.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The distribution of all type MCI prevalence estimates across years.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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