A doença de Alzheimer como prioridade de pesquisa na Agenda de Pesquisa em Saúde: análise da pesquisa brasileira e latino-americana

Abstract

The growing trend of population aging and the increasing number of people with Alzheimer’s disease impact socioeconomic and health systems. Health research has become a central element in addressing priority health issues. Health Research Agendas strategically define priorities based on each country’s health condition, encourage research, and generate scientific knowledge to meet population needs. Thus, the objective of this thesis is to investigate research on Alzheimer’s disease before and after the implementation of the Health Research Agenda in Brazil using three strategies: mapping various characteristics of scientific production, detailing technical and scientific aspects associated with the Brazilian and Latin American Health Research Agendas, and identifying the perceptions of health science, technology, and innovation managers and Brazilian researchers regarding the impact of the Agenda on research. This is a quantitative-qualitative study based on the collection and analysis of quantitative data on scientific production indexed in the Scopus database for the periods 1974-2005, 2006-2019, 1986-2004, and 2005-2023, data obtained from documents and semi-structured individual interviews, on which documentary analysis and content analysis were conducted. The results indicate an increase in the number of original and review articles published in health science journals, authored by researchers affiliated with institutions in Brazil’s Southeast region. Journal co-citation analysis revealed that Brazilian research on Alzheimer’s disease was initially based on 72 journals focused on health sciences, but after the implementation of the Agenda, this number grew to 679 journals, covering a broader range of disciplines. Author co-citation analysis identified 93 co-cited authors in distant clusters from 1974-2005, while between 2006- 2019, 1,000 co-cited authors formed more interconnected clusters. Keyword co-occurrence analysis highlighted the growth of Brazilian and Latin American scientific production and the diversification of research topics following the implementation of the Agendas. Documentary analysis indicated that among the 47 countries in the region, only Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and a few Caribbean nations have established research agendas that prioritize Alzheimer's disease. Content analysis revealed that managers and some researchers recognize the Agenda as a permanent and sustainable public health policy tool that has driven health research activities in the country. However, a lack of dissemination, institutionalization, and updates compromises its effectiveness. The analysis of scientific production, Research Agendas, and interviews demonstrates that, while the Health Research Agenda has strengthened Alzheimer’s disease research in Brazil, its continuous updating is essential to guide priority research and serve as a reference for funding. In addition, the findings of this study highlight the need for increased investment and adequate infrastructure as fundamental measures to ensure that Brazilian science continues to advance in Alzheimer’s disease research and other health conditions.