Mortality from Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias in Ecuador during the Period 2012-2022.

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing concern worldwide in healthcare. In Ecuador, the increasing life expectancy has raised the prevalence of age-related diseases, including dementias. The main objective of this study was to analyze the mortality from AD and other dementias in Ecuador from 2012 to 2022.

METHODOLOGY

A retrospective, descriptive time series analysis was conducted on adult subjects with AD and other dementias across various geographic regions of Ecuador during the 2012-2022 period. A sample of 855,122 individuals registered in the databases of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) was analyzed.

RESULTS

Out of the total evaluated subjects, 4,836 deaths were due to AD (0.56%) and 1,317 deaths from other types of dementia (0.15%). For AD, the distribution of deaths by sex showed a predominant trend in women (n=3,008) within the group aged 65 years or older (n=4,749). For other dementias, women were also the main group (n=766), along with those aged 65 years and older (n=1,294). The national mortality rate showed an upward trend during this decade, increasing from 2.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012 to 4.86 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022.

DISCUSSION

This study reveals a worrying increase in mortality from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias in Ecuador between 2012 and 2022, especially among women, adults over 65 years of age, and residents of the Sierra region. Several factors that could negatively influence cognitive function were observed. These findings are consistent with global trends and suggest that biological, environmental, and social variables, such as aging, postmenopausal hormonal changes, chronic exposure to hypoxic altitude conditions, and unequal access to health services, could play a key role in this disease.

CONCLUSION

Mortality from Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in Ecuador showed a sustained increase between 2012 and 2022, reflecting a growing burden of these pathologies in the population and the urgent need to strengthen prevention, early diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment strategies. The disproportionate impact on women, adults over 65 years of age, and residents of the Sierra region suggests the involvement of various biological, environmental, and social determinants of health, which requires more rigorous surveillance and a differentiated approach for these particularly vulnerable populations.