Population aging is a process that is especially accelerated in some parts
of the world. One example is in Latin America. As with other developing reg
ions, Latin America has to confront population "graying" in the context of
an emerging economy. As a result of this and of their health history, the p
revalence and incidence of age-related pathologies are different than those
in the developed world. The burden of dementia is significant for patients
, families, health systems, and public health. The aim of this paper was to
summarize data from the scarce dementia epidemiological studies available
in Latin America, the diagnostic criteria used in most countries and the mo
st widely used diagnostic tools and neuropsychological assessment instrumen
ts (some of them translated, validated, and harmonized). Reference is made
to the approval process and availability in Argentina of dementia and cogni
tive decline-related drugs.