Alzheimers Dement
December 2024
Background: Understanding the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer's disease is crucial for advancing research and developing targeted interventions. Genomic research in dementia in Africa is of utmost importance based on recent reports from studies in African Americans that African ancestral gene is associated with lower risk effect for developing AD. However, dementia related genetic study is an evolving research in sub-Saharan Africa with peculiar challenges influencing participant recruitment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Background: The escalating prevalence of dementia in Africa, propelled by rapidly ageing population, necessitates innovative approaches to raise awareness and address associated challenges. The prevalent misconception of dementia as a result of witchcraft or wizardry is a challenge, and the media acts as a key agent in dispelling such myths. By reaching divers audiences, the media reinforces the notion that dementia is not confined to Africa alone but it is a global concern.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Limited knowledge exists about the cultural approaches to managing the psychological and behavioral outcomes (PBO) of Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementia (AD/ADRD) in Africa. Specifically, to develop a culture-sensitive training framework for AD/ADRD caregivers, we explored AD/ADRD caregivers' cultural embeddedness in managing people living with AD/ADRD (PLWAD/ADRD) in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Method: Using hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative research design, we interviewed 23 caregivers providing care to PLWAD/ADRD in Ibadan, a Yoruba-speaking ethnic group of Nigeria.
Background: Historically, efforts to engage under-represented communities in health research have encountered limited success, attributable to inadequate community participation, acceptability, and ownership. Globally, an innovative strategy to foster community involvement in research is the establishment of Community Advisory Boards (CABs). These boards consist of stakeholders from the target community, providing partnership and support throughout all phases of the research, from conception to implementation and evaluation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Majority of people living worldwide live in low- and middle- income countries, including sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Most cognitive assessment batteries for Alzheimer's Disease(AD), are developed in high income countries (HICs), where most international dementia collaborations and data originate. The African Dementia Consortium (AfDC) is a new scientific collaboration network currently participating in the Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer's Disease Diversity Genetic Cohorts in the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (READD-ADSP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Background: The escalating prevalence of dementia in Africa, propelled by rapidly ageing population, necessitates innovative approaches to raise awareness and address associated challenges. The prevalent misconception of dementia as a result of witchcraft or wizardry is a challenge, and the media acts as a key agent in dispelling such myths. By reaching divers audiences, the media reinforces the notion that dementia is not confined to Africa alone but it is a global concern.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Knowledge on the clinical presentation of dementia is essential for appropriate care, especially in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries where these cases are on a sharp rise and can also aid early detection of other underlying conditions.This study sought to provide a broad and updated socio-demographic, clinical profile, pattern of diagnosis and treatment features of people diagnosed with dementia in this setting.
Method: A retrospective cohort study which reviewed the medical case records of all older adults with dementia receiving treatment at the psychogeriatric and the neurology clinic of the Geriatric Centre (N=192).
Two of every three persons living with dementia reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The projected increase in global dementia rates is expected to affect LMICs disproportionately. However, the majority of global dementia care costs occur in high-income countries (HICs), with dementia research predominantly focusing on HICs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: An understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying diseases in ancestrally diverse populations is an important step towards development of targeted treatments. Research in African and African admixed populations can enable mapping of complex traits, because of their genetic diversity, extensive population substructure, and distinct linkage disequilibrium patterns. We aimed to do a comprehensive genome-wide assessment in African and African admixed individuals to better understand the genetic architecture of Parkinson's disease in these underserved populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The association between MAPT and PD risk may be subject to ethnic variability even within populations of similar geographical origin. Data on MAPT haplotype frequencies, and its association with PD risk in black Africans are lacking. We aimed to determine the frequencies of MAPT haplotypes and their role as risk factors for PD and age at onset in Nigerians.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The microtubule-associated protein tau ( ) gene is critical because of its putative role in the causal pathway of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the link between the main H1 haplotype and risk of PD. Inconsistencies in reported association may be driven by genetic variability in the populations studied to date.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe relationship between APOE polymorphisms and Parkinson's disease (PD) in black Africans has not been previously investigated. We evaluated the association between APOE polymorphic variability and self-declared cognition in 1100 Nigerians with PD and 1097 age-matched healthy controls. Cognition in PD was assessed using the single item cognition question (item 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Data on non-motor symptoms (NMS) in black Africans with Parkinson's disease (PD) are sparse.
Objective: To describe the profile of NMS in the Nigeria PD Registry (NPDR) cohort and explore the relationship between NMS and PD motor phenotype.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of the frequency and burden of NMS, based on the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS) and the Chaudhuri method respectively in our cohort.
Background: Clinical disease registries are useful for quality improvement in care, benchmarking standards, and facilitating research. Collaborative networks established thence can enhance national and international studies by generating more robust samples and credible data and promote knowledge sharing and capacity building. This report describes the methodology, baseline data, and prospects of the Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Laboratory-based studies of neurological disease patterns and mechanisms are sparse in sub-Saharan Africa. However, availability of human brain tissue resource depends on willingness towards brain donation. This study evaluated the level of willingness among outpatient clinic attendees in a Nigerian teaching hospital.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParkinson's disease is the most prevalent movement disorder. Currently, therapies are palliative with associated irreversible behavioural incompetence. Here, we investigated the ability of kolaviron (KV), an anti-inflammatory biflavonoid isolated form Garcinia kola seeds, to rescue striatal neuronal damage and redo-inflammation in rats exposed to rotenone (ROT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain banks are biorepositories of central nervous system (CNS) tissue including fixed and frozen whole brains, brain biopsies and spinal cord, as well as body fluids comprising the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood stored for research purposes. Though several independent brain banks exist in high income countries, only five low- and middle - income countries (LMIC) have brain banks. The African continent is yet to establish a formalized brain bank despite its huge human genomic diversity, ageing of her populations with concomitant increases in ageing - associated brain disorders and differential phenotypic expression and outcomes of brain disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: It is crucial to assess genomic literacy related to stroke among Africans in preparation for the ethical, legal and societal implications of the genetic revolution which has begun in Africa.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of West Africans about stroke genetic studies.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among stroke patients and stroke-free controls recruited across 15 sites in Ghana and Nigeria.
Rotenone, a naturally occurring and commonly used pesticide, has been established as a model for inducing Parkinson's Disease (PD) in rodents. Kolaviron is a biflavonoid complex from Garcinia kola seeds with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we evaluated the ameliorative role of Kolaviron on rotenone-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster.
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