Throughout the month, ADI has been involved in a range of engagements across the Latin American region, from high level symposiums in Curaçao and Mexico, to providing strategic input on draft bills in Argentina and the international bloc of Latin American countries MERCOSUR.
On March 27 and 28, 2025 ADI Regional Director of the Americas, Diego Aguilar, attended a high-level meeting in Mexico City focusing on the ‘Progress and Challenges of the implementation of Mexico’s National Dementia Plan 2025’ hosted by the Instituto Nacional de Geriatría – México and the Federación Mexicana de Alzheimer, ADI’s member association in Mexico.
Learn about Federación Mexicana de Alzheimer
This timely event brought together government institutions, international experts, and civil society organisations to evaluate progress, share best practices, and discuss strategic actions across key areas such as diagnosis, care, stigma reduction, and civil society engagement. ADI played an active role by providing a global perspective on national dementia plans and their alignment with the WHO Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia.
Mexico has had a National Dementia Plan since 2014, demonstrating early leadership in Latin America. However, more than a decade later, a budgetary commitment which would allow its update and federal application is still pending. In a country with more than one and a half million people living with dementia – a figure that will double by 2050 – it is urgent that these efforts are translated into to sustained public policies, with resources and political will.
Diego said;
Contributing to the strengthening of Mexico’s National Dementia Plan as Regional Director for the Americas at ADI was an invaluable opportunity to reaffirm our global network’s commitment to local action. This meeting highlighted Mexico’s leadership in the region and the importance of evidence-based, person-centered public policy.
Among the attendees of this event was Jesús Rodrigo Ramos, ADI Board Member, CEO of CEAFA, ADI’s member association in Spain, and Chair of Alzheimer Iberoamérica. He said:
The Mexican experience is a crucial example for the entire Ibero-American region. From CEAFA and Alzheimer Iberoamérica, we celebrate this step forward in national planning, which strengthens regional collaboration and reflects the shared challenges and solutions across our communities.
The event concluded with the signing of a letter of intent by representatives of key health and social security institutions to support the implementation of the national plan, responding to recommendations on priority actions developed in collaboration with Federación Mexicana de Alzheimer to unite efforts and improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their families.
ADI Board Member and former President of FEDMA, Rosa Farrés, was also in attendence, she said:
This symposium was a milestone for Mexico and for Latin America as a whole. It demonstrates that progress is possible when institutions, civil society, and international allies come together. As an ADI Board Member and advocate from Mexico, I am proud to be part of this momentum.
Earlier in March, Rosa also attended a symposium on post diagnosis support in Curaçao, hosted by ADI’s member association, Stichting Alzheimer Curaçao, in commemoration of their 25th Anniversary. Rosa participated in the event as a keynote speaker alongside Curaçao’s Prime Minister, Gilmar Pisas, as well as international speakers from the Caribbean and Latin American region. ADI congratulates Stichting Alzheimer Curaçao on this auspicious milestone in their mission to improve the lives of those living with dementia and their carers on the island.
Learn about Stichting Alzheimer Curaçao
ADI has also been actively engaging with regional policymakers to strengthen dementia advocacy within MERCOSUR, offering strategic input on a draft bill to be considered by the bloc. The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) is a southern American regional economic and political body which seeks to promote trade and policy coordination between its Member States. The bill to be considered by the parliament of MERCOSUR (PARLASUR), seeks to improve the awareness and provision of services for those living with dementia, alongside risk reduction within Member States, aligned to the action areas of the Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia, amongst other international treaties such as the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.
In Argentina, the Bill for the Promotion of Brain Health, which would establish the Program for the Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, has gained the signatures of 10 national deputies and has now been formally submitted to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies (HCDN).
The bill, which was drafted with the help of expert researchers and civil society leaders led by ALMA, the ADI member association in Argentina, was introduced by Deputy Facundo Manes and supported by the President of the Health Committee, Pablo Yedlin, along with leaders of parliamentary blocs and authorities from the Health Committee of the HCDN.