Dementia in Africa: Current evidence, knowledge gaps, and future directions.

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.

Prevalence estimates of dementia in older adults in rural Kilimanjaro 2009-2010 and 2018-2019: is there evidence of changing prevalence?

Introduction: Although limited, existing epidemiological data on dementia in sub-Saharan Africa indicate that prevalence may be increasing; contrasting with recent decreases observed in high-income countries. We have previously reported the age-adjusted prevalence of dementia in rural Tanzania in 2009-2010 as 6.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.

Development of a brief screening method for identification of depression in older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives: To develop a brief, culturally appropriate screening tool for identifying late life depression (LLD), for use by non-specialist clinicians in primary and out-patient care settings in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Background: Depressive disorders are a leading contributor to the global health burden. LLD is common and cases will increase as populations' age, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as those in SSA.

Effectiveness of App-Based Cognitive Screening for Dementia by Lay Health Workers in Low Resource Settings. A Validation and Feasibility Study in Rural Tanzania.

Background: The majority of people with dementia live in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) human-resource shortages in mental health and geriatric medicine are well recognized. Use of technological solutions may improve access to diagnosis.

Conceptualization of depression amongst older adults in rural Tanzania: a qualitative study.

Background: Depression in older people is likely to become a growing global health problem with aging populations. Significant cultural variation exists in beliefs about depression (terminology, symptomatology, and treatments) but data from sub-Saharan Africa are minimal. Low-resource interventions for depression have been effective in low-income settings but cannot be utilized without accurate diagnosis.