ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN AFRICA

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN NIGERIA

The most reliable prevalence estimates of Alzheimer's disease in Nigeria are more than twenty-year old, the most recent of which is approximately 2.3%. However, a more recent study of dementia in 2006 that used a “probable dementia” screening tool arrived at a prevalence estimate of 10.1%. Unfortunately, limited epidemiological research reports were available then and continue to be limited, making this number vulnerable to significant under-diagnosis and under-reporting, especially given the growing burden of vascular disease in Nigeria and the aging population.

REFERENCE:

Hall KS, Ogunniyi AO, Hendrie HC, Osuntokun B, Hui SIUL, Musick B, et al., et al. A cross-cultural community based study of dementias: Methods and performance of the survey instrument Indianapolis, USA, and Ibadan, Nigeria. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 1996; 6:129-42. Kalaria RN, Maestre GE, Arizaga R, Friedland RP, Galasko D, Hall K, et al., World Federation of Neurology Dementia Research Group, et al. Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia in developing countries: prevalence, management, and risk factors. Lancet Neurol 2008; 7: 812-26