Argentina

There is no nationally organised, widespread screening programme for dementia in the country, which means the diagnostic journey relies on individuals and families recognising early signs. Two of the most common screening tools used in clinical settings, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), are both validated and used in Argentina. However, the unequal distribution of specialists and diagnostic centres across the country means that access to a healthcare professional proficient in administering and interpreting such specialised tests is not uniform.

Argentina has made significant strides in integrating advanced neuroimaging techniques into Alzheimer’s disease research and clinical practice, with the establishment of Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Standard structural Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans are mainly available in urban areas and in the private sector. Advanced functional scans like PET have a restricted availability and accessibility. The availability of FDG-PET and amyloid-PET is mostly limited to one centre in Buenos Aires at the Institute for Neurological Research Dr. Raul Carrea (FLENI).

Genetic testing for the prediction of Alzheimer’s disease in Argentina is available through foreign-based commercial companies. Despite the limited availability, Argentina is a significant contributor to the global genetic research, which may enable access to at-risk individuals.

Most predictive genetic tests or advanced molecular panels offered in the country, such as full sequencing of specific genes or risk genes such as APOE4, are performed through partnerships with highly specialised laboratories abroad. Argentina has scientific institutions and regional referral centres that conduct genetic studies focused on clinical diagnosis and global research protocols. Although the Centro Nacional de Genética Médica (CENAGEM) under the Ministry of Health, exists, its public resources are largely prioritised for rare genetic and developmental conditions.

Alzheimer’s disease biomarker testing is not widely available throughout the country. In Argentina, Alzheimer’s disease biomarker tests are mainly performed at highly specialised neurological centres and specialised private laboratories, mostly concentrated in Buenos Aires.
While testing is available at the FLENI Neurological Institute, blood biomarkers are currently discussed in the context of international research and are not yet part of routine clinical practice in Argentina.

Specialist memory clinics and advanced diagnostic centres are concentrated in Buenos Aires and Rosario, including leading institutions such as the FLENI, INECO and Favaloro foundations and Hospital Italiano, which provide comprehensive assessments and specific treatments.
In public-sector hospitals, patients generally receive care from general practitioners, who sometimes refer them to specialists. PAMI provider hospitals, including Hospital César Milstein in Buenos Aires, have specialists, day centres and family support. Demand is high and access remains limited, as in the provinces, forcing families from other regions to travel long distances and creating geographical and socioeconomic barriers.

Day centres are mainly public or private facilities, some supported by PAMI, while NGOs such as A.L.M.A. Buenos Aires offer extensive community support for families and caregivers.
Palliative care for dementia remains underdeveloped, with services mainly based in hospitals or provided at home, leaving significant gaps in specialist end-of-life support despite the existence of a national palliative care law.

Specialist memory clinics and advanced diagnostic centres are located almost exclusively in Buenos Aires and Rosario. Leading institutions such as the INECO and Favaloro foundations and FLENI, together with major private hospitals such as Hospital Italiano, offer comprehensive neurological and neuropsychological assessments but are concentrated in these urban centres. Although a limited number of dementia specialists practise in provincial capitals such as Córdoba or San Miguel de Tucumán, they are scarce. This centralisation forces families elsewhere in the country to undertake long, costly journeys to obtain an accurate diagnosis, creating significant geographical and socioeconomic barriers to diagnosis, treatment and care.

Day centres are also geographically concentrated, with a mixture of public and private facilities available mainly in Greater Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires City operates a network of free public centres, including one for cognitive impairment. The public health insurance scheme PAMI (Comprehensive Medical Care Programme), through Hospital César Milstein, provides coverage for specialist day centres for its members.
Community support through NGOs is expanding.

However, A.L.M.A. Buenos Aires centralises care and support through volunteers providing in-person and remote services.

In Argentina, both government and private insurance are legally required to cover medicine and therapy costs for Alzheimer’s disease. More precisely, following a diagnosis, patients can apply for the Single Disability Certificate (CUD), a legal document that compels their insurer to provide 100% coverage for all related treatments and services. This coverage includes medications, rehabilitation, and support services such as home assistance or residential care.

Without the CUD, patients rely on the standard coverage provided by their insurer, which typically involves copayments and limitations.

Psychosocial support for caregivers is provided mainly by NGOs, in person or remotely. The leading organisation, A.L.M.A. Buenos Aires, and other NGOs in the country’s RADA network offer a nationwide network of services including support groups, personalised advice by telephone and email, and educational workshops, although they do not provide direct financial assistance. Other organisations, such as Alzheimer Argentina, also offer supervised support groups and psychotherapy for the family, focusing on emotional and practical guidance.
For retirees and pensioners affiliated with PAMI (, the national health insurance scheme for this group), additional financial support is generally not available to members; it may be obtained through a disability certificate.

The National Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders was officially approved in February 2026. The strategic framework operates under the National Directorate for a Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health and is designed to address the growing impact of neurodegenerative diseases, identified as a public health priority because of their progressive nature and significant effects on social and occupational functioning.

The strategy is organised around six main pillars:
Promotion and prevention: launch public awareness campaigns to educate communities and reduce dementia-related stigma.
Workforce training: provide healthcare workers with specific guidelines to ensure early detection and appropriate intervention.
Comprehensive care: provide dedicated psychological support and care resources for patients and informal caregivers.
Research and information: promote ongoing clinical and social research to keep information systems up to date.
Intersectoral coordination: encourage collaboration between ministries and healthcare sectors.
Epidemiology: formally assess the country’s current epidemiological situation.

Previously, several Argentine provinces took the initiative to enact their own dementia legislation. Tucumán (Law 9014), Catamarca (Law 5895), Chaco (Law 7556), Santa Fe (Law 14111) and Entre Ríos have established subnational frameworks or programmes.
The most recent is the Provincial Programme for the Comprehensive Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias enacted by the Government of Tucumán. Its main aim is to improve the quality of life of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their families. Its key objectives are:
Early detection and diagnosis: implement effective early detection strategies and establish specialist clinics throughout the province to provide medical, psychological and social support.

Accessible care: provide ongoing healthcare staff training on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and develop public information and awareness campaigns on the disease and brain health.

Research and data collection: establish a reliable system of statistics and registration of new Alzheimer’s diagnoses and strengthen research into new ways to prevent, treat and cure the disease.

Family and caregiver support: offer resources and support to families, including training for home caregivers.

Creating an inclusive environment: promote a friendly, inclusive environment by adapting communities and public spaces for people living with dementia.

Improving access to services: coordinate with the Provincial Disability Board to ensure access to the Unified Disability Certificate (CUD) and improve access to treatment and medicines.

Telemedicine: coordinate a telemedicine system for people living with dementia, including teleconsultation and tele-education.

Higher education: encourage universities and other higher education institutions to include dementia in healthcare professionals’ curricula.

Argentina approved its first National Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders through Ministry of Health Resolution 279/2026, published on 19 February 2026. The plan has six pillars: promotion and prevention; workforce training; comprehensive care and family support; research, innovation and information systems; intersectoral coordination and governance; and assessment of the epidemiological situation. However, the resolution states that the measure does not entail new budget expenditure, so implementation may depend on existing institutional capacity and provincial coordination. A separate bill (PLEA) to create a broader national Alzheimer’s and dementia programme has passed the Chamber of Deputies but, as of late June 2026, remains under Senate consideration.

Several Argentine provinces have enacted their own dementia legislation, including Tucumán, Catamarca, Chaco, Santa Fe and Entre Ríos. Tucumán’s Provincial Programme for the Comprehensive Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias aims to improve patients’ and families’ quality of life through early detection, specialist clinics and ongoing healthcare staff training. It emphasises research, data collection, caregiver support, inclusive communities, better access to services such as the Unified Disability Certificate (CUD), telemedicine and dementia education in higher education curricula, creating a coordinated provincial framework despite the lack of national legislation.

There are no upcoming strategies.

FLENI Neurological Institute is a central hub for Alzheimer’s disease research, hosting the Argentina-Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) to validate biomarkers and participating in international clinical trials like the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN). Its Laboratory of Applied Neuroscience Research also uses pluripotent stem cells to model and study neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. FLENI also leads the LatAm-FINGERS study, which adapts the Finnish FINGER model to test whether multidomain lifestyle interventions—combining diet, exercise, and cognitive training—can prevent cognitive decline in older adults across Latin America.

Researchers from the University of Buenos Aires have been involved in the first Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) for Alzheimer’s in South American populations, identifying genetic risk factors shared with Europeans. They also conduct foundational research on the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease.

A research team at National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET) has for the first time used advanced super-resolution microscopy combined with artificial intelligence to visualise, in a living cell, how the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (a membrane neuro-receptor implicated in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Myasthenia gravis) moves and interacts with the lipid cholesterol.