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

The Hispanic Caribbean region is rapidly aging but national population-based aging surveys in the region 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 areas with many similarities but divergent recent histories: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

In early 2026 CADAS will complete surveying population-based samples of adults ages 65 and over. In Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic these are nationally representative samples of 1,500 adults each; the Cuban survey includes 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 global Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP). For a subset of CADAS participants, clinicians completed online clinical consensus diagnoses based on National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer’s Association (NIA-AA) ratings.

This study is producing nationally representative data on health, dementia and cognitive aging in Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico; microdata will be made publicly available in early 2026. We are also harmonizing data in Cuba. This poster will introduce the data to encourage researchers to use it to expand understanding of aging and dementia in the Hispanic Caribbean and promote cross-national comparative research in Latin American and beyond.