ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN AFRICA

SEPTEMBER IS WORLD ALZHEIMER'S MONTH

SEPTEMBER 21 IS WORLD ALZHEIMER'S DAY

IS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE COMMON IN AFRICA?

The most recent estimate of Alzheimer's Disease in Africa from 2010 suggests that 2.7 million people live with the disease, most of whom reside in Sub Saharan Africa. Alzheimer's Diseases remains the most prevalent cause of dementia (57%) in Africa and Vascular Dementia is a distant second (27%). It is likely that these prevalence estimates represent significant under-diagnosis due to poor awareness and limited epidemiological data. Moreover cultural beliefs regarding dementia in Africa pose barriers to diagnosis, with dementia symptoms either being considered a part of normal aging, or even a curse, creating further stigma.

REFERENCE:

Rhiannon George-Carey, Davies Adeloye, Kit Yee Chan, Abigail Paul,1 Ivana Kolčić,Harry Campbell, and Igor Rudan. An estimate of the prevalence of dementia in Africa: A systematic analysis. J Glob Health. 2012 Dec; 2(2): 020401

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