Biomedical research in Alzheimer’s disease in a Latin American developing country: challenges in the informed consent process

TL;DR

This review discusses the challenges of obtaining informed consent for Alzheimer’s research in Chile, emphasizing ethical and regional issues in Latin America.

Contribution

The paper highlights tailored best practices for ethical Alzheimer’s research in Latin American developing countries.

Findings

Latin America faces unique challenges in Alzheimer’s research due to socioeconomic and cultural factors.

Informed consent processes require special attention for cognitively impaired individuals in ethical research.

Tailored best practices can promote equitable research development in the region.

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a significant global health issue, impacting 50 million individuals with dementia worldwide, a number projected to triple by 2050. Although research has been conducted for decades, there is no effective prevention, treatment, or early diagnostic method for AD. Research on AD in Latin America (LatAm) faces unique challenges compared to developed countries due to socioeconomic, cultural, and infrastructural factors. While the prevalence of dementia is rapidly increasing in LatAm due to demographic shifts, the region is underrepresented in research, diagnostics and care. The informed consent process, a critical aspect of research, becomes particularly complex with individuals who have cognitive impairments. It requires a balance between protecting vulnerable individuals and advancing research for their benefit. By developing and implementing best practices, ethical research can be conducted with this population, ensuring they receive appropriate care. This review provides an update on informed consent for AD research in Chile.

Salvadores reviews the challenges of the informed consent process in Alzheimer’s research, highlighting the ethical complexities of working with cognitively impaired participants and the regional disparities affecting Latin America. The review concludes that implementing tailored best practices can protect participants and promote equitable and ethical research development across the region.

Graphical Abstract

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