In December 2025, Peru reached a long-awaited milestone in its response to dementia. The Ministry of Health officially presented the National Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias 2026–2028, marking the first time the country has adopted a comprehensive public policy to address one of the most pressing challenges of population ageing.
Dementia affects thousands of people and families across Peru, yet for years it remained largely invisible within the health system. The new National Plan signals a shift: dementia is now recognised as a public health priority that requires coordinated action, long-term planning, and evidence-based decision-making.
A comprehensive and people-centred approach
The National Dementia Plan is the result of years of collaborative work involving government actors, health professionals, researchers, and civil society organisations. It proposes an integrated approach that spans prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and care, while also strengthening health system capacity and acknowledging the central role of caregivers. enfoque integrado que abarca la prevención, la detección temprana, el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y el cuidado; al mismo tiempo, busca fortalecer la capacidad del sistema de salud y reconocer el rol fundamental de los cuidadores.
Importantly, the Plan moves beyond a purely clinical perspective. It recognises dementia as a condition with social, economic, and emotional dimensions—one that affects not only individuals but also families, communities, and health services. By doing so, it lays the groundwork for more humane, inclusive, and sustainable responses to cognitive impairment in Peru. deterioro cognitivo en el Perú.
IMPACT Salud’s contribution
Para IMPACT SaludFor IMPACT Salud, the publication of the National Dementia Plan represents a particularly significant achievement. Since its inception, the project has sought to generate high-quality evidence to inform policy and practice around dementia, health systems, and digital innovations in Peru. Being able to contribute to the development of this national policy reflects the relevance and applied value of that work. evidencia de alta calidad para informar las políticas y la práctica en torno a la demencia, los sistemas de salud y las innovaciones digitales en el Perú. Haber podido contribuir al desarrollo de esta política nacional refleja la relevancia y el valor aplicado de dicho trabajo.
IMPACT Salud collaborated in the elaboration of the Plan by sharing research findings, technical input, and lessons learned from working closely with people living with dementia, caregivers, health professionals, and policymakers. This contribution aligns with the project’s core objective: to ensure that research does not remain confined to academic spaces, but actively informs real-world decision-making and system change.
Research informing public policy
The presentation of the National Dementia Plan at the Ministry of Health highlighted the importance of bridging research and policy. Dr Sofía Cuba, Principal Investigator of IMPACT Salud, participated in the official launch event at MINSA, where she shared reflections on dementia as a public health issue and the role of applied research in strengthening national responses.
Her participation underscored a key message: effective dementia policies must be grounded in local evidence and shaped through dialogue between researchers, policymakers, and communities. The National Plan demonstrates that such collaboration is not only possible, but essential.
A milestone—and a starting point
While the adoption of a National Dementia Plan is a major step forward, it is also the beginning of a longer journey. Implementation will require sustained political commitment, adequate resources, continued capacity-building within the health system, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. It will also depend on the active involvement of caregivers, civil society, and people living with dementia themselves.
For IMPACT Salud, the Plan provides a critical framework within which future research, innovation, and collaboration can take place. It creates opportunities to test and scale solutions, evaluate interventions, and continue generating evidence that supports more equitable and effective dementia care in Peru.
As the country moves from planning to action, IMPACT Salud remains committed to working alongside partners across sectors to ensure that the promises of the National Dementia Plan translate into meaningful improvements in people’s lives.
The work continues—but having a National Dementia Plan in place is an achievement worth celebrating, and a powerful way to close 2025 with renewed momentum for brain health in Peru.
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