Ground-breaking study on Dementia launched in Nairobi

Brain and Mind Institute Founding Director Prof Zul Merali and Davos Alzheimer Collaborative Chief Operating Officer (COO) Drew Holzapfel during the signing of an MOU to premier first-of-its-kind research to tackle brain aging and dementia in Kenya. [Courtesy]

The Aga Khan University’s Brain & Mind Institute in partnership with The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) and Nature Conferences, has hosted a conference that brings together experts from across Africa and the world to address key issues affecting people with dementia.

The conference, themed “The Future of Dementia in Africa: Advancing Global Partnerships”, is expected to present studies focusing on the genetics of dementia in African and under-represented populations.

The discussion will centre on discrepancies compared to the Caucasian population and a lack of diversity in genomic studies that limit the effectiveness of targeted therapies across diverse populations.

 It will also focus on brain health throughout human lifespan, early detection methods, genetics, and the role of primary care interventions in preventing brain disorders.

While speaking at the conference, the Director of the Brain & Mind Institute at Aga Khan University, Professor Zul Merali, highlighted the importance of data collection and research that is based on and in Africa.

“As we look at the unique challenges faced in addressing dementia in Africa, we must be alive to the important aspect that capacity building is needed in the global south to enable early detection of the disease. We must also understand that lifestyle changes are important in changing the trajectory of dementia, and this is something that we must keep communicating to the public,” he said.

Professor Zul also emphasised that the studies exemplify why researchers champion diverse genetic research in dementia. 

“Each insight brings us closer to revolutionising Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment globally,” he added.

According to the World Health Organization, Dementia is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities. The illness worsens over time. It mainly affects older people, although not all people are affected as they age.

The stigma around dementia and other cognitive disorders is prevalent in Kenya. People who have been diagnosed or have the symptoms of Dementia are usually seen as either bewitched or being punished by the gods for having done wrong in their youth.

To avoid stigma, a lot of people hide their loved ones and family members who are living with dementia in fear of being ostracised by the community. But according to Zul, the new findings will help fight the stigma.

“We have a team of medical anthropologists that have gone into the communities and we found that a lot of people do not know what dementia is. One thing is very clear, we need to educate the populations at the community level where literacy is an issue”, he said.

Between 2020 and 2050, the older African population is projected to triple from 74.4 million to 235.1 million, according to the US Census Bureau.

Inadequate or lack of correct information and awareness on dementia and other cognitive diseases that affect ageing populations have made it difficult to diagnose and manage the conditions in Kenya and Africa at large.

According to some of the findings by the researchers, Africa faces unique challenges in addressing Dementia, including limited resources, varying levels of healthcare infrastructure, and a need for greater awareness and education. This intervention in data collection and research will present an opportunity to develop strategies that are tailored to the specific needs of Africa.

One of the lead researchers in the Brain and Mind Institute, Dr. Chinedu Udeh-Momoh, says, “Social isolation and loneliness is one of the key primary cognitive development risk factors within the Kenyan and African context.”

With Africa’s older population expected to triple by 2050, addressing gaps in Dementia care is critical.

According to the World Health Organization, Dementia is a growing public health challenge around the world, with an estimated 150 million people expected to be living with the disease by 2050. In sub-Saharan Africa, 2.13 million people were living with dementia in 2015, and this number is expected to increase to 3.48 million by 2030 and 7.62 million by 2050.