Dementia Research Policy and Infrastructure in Costa Rica as a Central American Upper‐Middle Income Country
Sylvia E. Josephy‐Hernandez, Randall Pérez‐Rojas, Sabrina Acosta‐Egea, Erick Miranda‐Valverde, Norbel Román, Hector Anthony Steele, Daniel Valerio Aguilar, Jorge M Leon‐Salas- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Neurology (clinical)
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Health Policy
- Epidemiology
Abstract
Background
Clinical research in Costa Rica came to a halt in 2010 when the legislative assembly, due to concerns around lack of oversight, declared that no studies could continue until research involving human beings was regulated by law. Legislation did not come to pass until 2014. Currently, clinical research is performed within both the public and private healthcare systems. With this study, we aim to showcase the growth of research in dementia in Costa Rica since 2014 and explore gaps that remain.
Method
We performed a bibliographic search for dementia research in Costa Rica, both in English and in Spanish. Search engines included PubMed, PMC, and Google Scholar. We also collaborated with clinicians and researchers from private and public institutes to delineate the current research network.
Result
We extracted 60 publications; 90% of the articles were published after 2014, with the largest increase after 2019 (63% of publications). 60% of publications derived from international collaborations. We identified 89 Costa Rican researchers authoring these publications, with 82% of authors belonging to the public sector. Two main public universities (University of Costa Rica and National University) and two main public hospitals (National Geriatrics Hospital and San Juan de Dios Hospital) produced most of the data. Important international collaborations including LatAm Fingers are taking place with one private hospital (Clínica Bíblica Hospital). An aspirational international collaboration is the inclusion of Costa Rica in ReDLat.
Conclusion
There has been an exponential growth of research in dementia in Costa Rica since 2014, reflected in the highest growth of publications after 2019. Most publications have been enabled by international collaborations. Despite a significant lack of funding and infrastructure, most of the research is taking place within the public system. Increased funding within the public system, as well as public‐private collaborations, would allow for further research development.