Building a Collaborative Future for Brain Health in Peru

In an effort to address the growing need for a national dementia plan in Peru, a coalition of clinicians, researchers, and advocates convened in Lima to advance brain health policy, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensure that local realities shape national solutions.

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^{Participants gathered in Lima to collaborate on the development of a national dementia plan. Bringing together clinicians, researchers, caregivers, and advocates, the workshop fostered interdisciplinary discussions to drive meaningful progress in brain health policy. Photo by Pedro Matias Vega Norell.}

Peru is a country of vast cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity, making it both a challenging and rewarding place for brain health research, clinical work, and public health policymaking. Despite this complexity, a growing movement led by multidisciplinary professionals in Peru is dedicated to understanding and addressing brain health. However, a critical gap remains—Peru currently lacks a national plan to address dementia and other neurocognitive disorders.

Recognizing this urgent need, Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health in Peru have been at the forefront of efforts to develop a national dementia plan. When neurologist and Atlantic Fellow (2018) Maritza Pintado-Caipa was tapped by the Ministry of Health to contribute to the writing of this plan, she reached out to the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) for mentorship and support. In response, GBHI faculty, staff and alumni worked alongside her to help expand the team, bringing in the expertise of IMPACT Salud and others. This collaborative effort culminated in the Action Workshop: Advancing Brain Health in Peru – Interdisciplinary Approaches for a National Dementia Plan, held on February 3–4, 2025, in Lima.

A Growing Movement for Brain Health

In recent years, the number of clinicians and researchers dedicated to dementia and other neurocognitive disorders in Peru has increased significantly, thanks to important collaborative local and international initiatives. This expanding network of experts and advocates has laid the foundation for discussions on how to best support the Ministry of Health of Peru in their efforts to develop a national plan for dementia, ensuring it is inclusive, multidisciplinary, and reflective of Peru’s rich diversity.

The event was co-organized by GBHI and IMPACT Salud, with support from the GloCal Health Fellowship. Planning was collaboratively led by Pintado-Caipa; Serggio Lanata, a neurologist from Peru, Associate Professor at UCSF and GBHI faculty member; Camelia Latta, Program Director for Alumni Relations & Special Initiatives at GBHI; and Carmen Hart, Program & Events Manager at GBHI. All Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health from Peru shaped the programming and presented and facilitated during the two-day workshop. 

“The leadership of the fellows was key in ensuring that the event reflected the realities on the ground and engaged a broad range of stakeholders,” said Lanata.

^{Camellia Latta (left) and Maritza Pintado-Caipa (right) are pictured in the left photo leading an interactive session at the Peru Action Workshop, gathering insights to inform a national dementia plan, while Maryenela Illanes Manrique is shown in the right photo presenting on the social determinants of health in Alzheimer’s disease, emphasizing the broader factors shaping dementia care in Peru. Photos by Pedro Matias Vega Norell.}

Collaboration as the Key to Progress

One of the most promising takeaways from the workshop was the strong commitment from all sectors to working together to increase awareness of brain health, improve diagnosis and care of neurocognitive disorders, and lay the groundwork for the early detection and management of dementia. The workshop was built around listening sessions designed to ensure that the plan would be informed by the perspectives of those directly affected—healthcare professionals, caregivers, policymakers, journalists, and artists. 

For many attendees, hearing directly from caregivers was particularly impactful. “I think something that made a difference was having the experience of the caregivers of the patients,” said José Cuenca Alfaro, a psychologist with Peru’s Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas. These firsthand accounts underscored the urgent need for policies that reflect the realities faced by families navigating dementia care daily.

Participants explored best practices from other countries, incorporating insights from global partners such as Alzheimer’s Disease International, alongside the expertise of local leaders. Discussions centered on identifying key barriers to care, adapting international models to the Peruvian context, and drafting actionable recommendations for the Ministry of Health.

“By centering stakeholder voices, this initiative seeks to ensure that the national dementia plan is not just a document that sits on a shelf, but a practical and sustainable framework that can be implemented effectively,” said Pintado-Caipa.

^{Speakers discussed the challenges of documenting and communicating brain health issues in the region. In the photo on the left, Serggio Lanata (left) and Alex Kornhuber (right) address the audience on the complexities of documenting Alzheimer's in Peru. In the photo on the right, Susana Lay speaks about the challenges of effectively communicating health topics. Photos by Pedro Matias Vega Norell.}

Looking Ahead

While this workshop marked an important milestone, it is only the beginning. The knowledge shared and the connections formed during this event will lay the groundwork for future collaborations. 

“As we move forward, we remain committed to supporting local efforts, fostering interdisciplinary engagement, and ensuring that Peru joins the growing number of countries implementing national strategies to prevent and address neurocognitive disorders,” said Victor Valcour, Site Director, GBHI, UCSF.

A key next step involves translating discussions into concrete action. Pintado-Caipa and Marcela Mar Meza, a geriatrician from Peru and Atlantic Fellow (2019), are leading efforts to develop key scientific documents to guide the national dementia plan. These efforts provide a crucial foundation for shaping policy and ensuring that the plan is both practical and impactful.

Additionally, a follow-up meeting is anticipated in May 2025 to align with the GBHI Annual Conference and the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference Satellite Symposium (AAIC Satellite) in Lima. This gathering will serve as an opportunity to further refine strategies, strengthen partnerships, and continue advancing collaborative efforts toward sustainable brain health solutions for Peru.

“Brain health is a global priority, and through partnerships like these, we can continue to reduce the scale and impact of neurocognitive disorders worldwide,” said Lanata. “The enthusiasm and dedication demonstrated at this workshop give us hope that meaningful progress is within reach for Peru—and beyond.”