A significant proportion of older adults attending public primary care clinics in Barbados are demonstrating a decline in their thinking capabilities.
That is according to the findings of the study, Cognitive Impairment in a Sample of the Elderly in Barbados, conducted by family physician Dr Charla Corbin, a fourth-year Doctor of Medicine (DM) Family Medicine student at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill.
Presented at the 25th Errol Walrond Scientific Symposium in July 2026, the study assessed 406 adults aged 65 and older who attended all nine polyclinics across the island between April and November 2025. Cognitive impairment, which involves a decline in memory, attention and executive functioning, is considered a precursor to dementia.
Using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a questionnaire used to screen for cognitive impairment and dementia, Dr Corbin found that 43.1 per cent of participants met the criteria for cognitive impairment.
The issue is increasingly important as Barbados’ population ages and dementia rates continue to rise globally. An estimated 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia, a figure expected to increase to 135 million by 2050.
Significant differences were observed among clinics. Maurice Byer Polyclinic in St. Peter recorded the highest prevalence at 66.7 per cent, while the David Thompson Polyclinic in St John also reported high rates. In contrast, the Glebe Polyclinic in St. George recorded the lowest prevalence.
Dr. Corbin suggested that the findings reflected patterns observed internationally.
“Rural communities have higher prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia,” she said. “These are regions with social isolation… less population density… and there seems to be a correlation with education, with there being fewer years of education.”
The Demographic Picture
The research found that prevalence increased with age, and gender emerged as another significant factor, with men more likely than women to experience impairment.
“Men had one-and-a-half times the odds of having cognitive impairment versus women,” she said.
Living arrangements also influenced outcomes as participants who lived alone were found to have a greater likelihood of impairment than those living with others.
Education was identified as one of the strongest protective factors. Individuals with over a decade of formal education were significantly less likely to experience impairment.
“More than ten years of education is protective to the brain. Less than ten was not,” she said.
Occupational history produced similar results, with professionals showing lower rates of impairment than manual workers.
“It showed that cognitive stimulation is actually more important than exercise,” Dr Corbin added.
Unexpected findings
One of the study’s more unexpected findings was that participants with hypertension appeared less likely to experience cognitive impairment. Dr Corbin suggested this could be linked to healthier behaviours among those managing the condition.
Dr Corbin said the findings underscore the importance of implementing early screening and prevention strategies within primary healthcare settings.
She cautioned, however, that the findings should not be interpreted as nationally representative, as the sample was limited to older adults attending public primary care clinics. Nevertheless, she said the research provides valuable insight into the burden of cognitive impairment among Barbados’ elderly population and points to areas where interventions may be most needed.
