학술논문

Dementia in Africa: Current evidence, knowledge gaps, and future directions
Document Type
article
Source
Alzheimer's & Dementia. 18(4)
Subject
Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Neurosciences
Clinical Sciences
Clinical Research
Alzheimer's Disease including Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD)
Acquired Cognitive Impairment
Alzheimer's Disease
Genetics
Aging
Brain Disorders
Dementia
Neurodegenerative
Neurological
Good Health and Well Being
Aged
Alzheimer Disease
Apolipoprotein E4
Dementia
Vascular
Genome-Wide Association Study
Genotype
Humans
Africa
Alzheimer's disease
consortium
dementia
epidemiology
genetics
neuropathology
biomarkers
precision medicine
vascular dementia
African Dementia Consortium
neuropathology. biomarkers
Geriatrics
Clinical sciences
Biological psychology
Language
Abstract
In tandem with the ever-increasing aging population in low and middle-income countries, the burden of dementia is rising on the African continent. Dementia prevalence varies from 2.3% to 20.0% and incidence rates are 13.3 per 1000 person-years with increasing mortality in parts of rapidly transforming Africa. Differences in nutrition, cardiovascular factors, comorbidities, infections, mortality, and detection likely contribute to lower incidence. Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated neurocognitive disorders are the most common dementia subtypes. Comprehensive longitudinal studies with robust methodology and regional coverage would provide more reliable information. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is most studied but has shown differential effects within African ancestry compared to Caucasian. More candidate gene and genome-wide association studies are needed to relate to dementia phenotypes. Validated culture-sensitive cognitive tools not influenced by education and language differences are critically needed for implementation across multidisciplinary groupings such as the proposed African Dementia Consortium.