The Caribbean American Dementia and Aging Study: protocol for a population-based study of older adult health and dementia in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND

The Hispanic Caribbean region is rapidly aging but national population-based aging surveys are rare. The Caribbean American Dementia and Aging Study (CADAS) is a multi-purpose household study of aging with a particular focus on the life course determinants and consequences of health and dementia in three countries with many similarities but divergent recent histories: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

METHODS

CADAS will survey population-based samples of adults ages 65 and over. In Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic these will be nationally representative samples of 1,500 adults each; the Cuban survey will include 1,500 adults from purposively selected urban and rural areas. We are collecting detailed data modules that encompass individual health metrics, sociodemographic background, physical and neurological exam, cognitive function, and household economic status. Data modules are generally harmonized with related Health and Retirement Surveys (HRS) around the world. Participant cognitive assessment protocols and informant reports were designed to be broadly harmonized with the 10/66 Dementia Research Group assessments and the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP). Data collection is in progress in all three countries. For a subset of CADAS data, clinicians will provide online clinical consensus diagnoses based on National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer’s Association (NIA-AA) ratings.

DISCUSSION

With this study, we will contribute nationally representative data on health, dementia and cognitive aging in Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, as well as harmonized data in Cuba to expand understanding of aging and dementia in the Hispanic Caribbean and promote cross-national comparative research around the world.