Publications by authors named "Immaculee Kavugho"
Background: Western countries have provided reference values (RV) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) plasma biomarkers, but there are not available in Sub-Saharan African populations.
Objective: We provide preliminary RV for AD and other plasma biomarkers including amyloid- (Aβ42/40), phosphorylated tau-181 and 217 (p-tau181, p-tau217), neurofilament light (Nfl), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), interleukin 1b and 10 (IL-1b and IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) in Congolese adults with and without dementia.
Methods: 85 adults (40 healthy and 45 dementia) over 50 years old were included.
Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are strongly linked to cardiovascular risk factors and other health conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. However, there is a dearth of research on this topic in low-income countries and underserved populations, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the population is aging rapidly with increasing cardiovascular risk factors and dementia-related diseases. This study evaluates health factors associated with WMH in the elderly Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), specifically Congolese adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The hippocampus is one of the first brain structures affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD), and its atrophy is a strong indicator of the disease. This study investigates the ability of plasma biomarkers of AD and AD-related dementias-amyloid-β (Aβ42/40), phosphorylated tau-181 (p-tau181), neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-to predict hippocampal atrophy in adult individuals in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Methods: Eighty-five adult individuals (40 healthy and 45 suspected AD) over 65 years old were evaluated using the Community Screening Instrument for Dementia and Alzheimer's Questionnaire (AQ).
Background: Western countries have provided reference values (RV) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) plasma biomarkers, but there are not available in Sub-Saharan African populations.
Objective: We provide preliminary RV for AD and other plasma biomarkers including amyloid- β (Aβ42/40), phosphorylated tau-181 and 217 (p-tau181, p-tau217), neurofilament light (Nfl), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), interleukin 1b and 10 (IL-1b and IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in Congolese adults with and without dementia.
Methods: 85 adults (40 healthy and 45 dementia) over 50 years old were included.
Article Synopsis
- The study looked at how well certain memory tests can find signs of a brain problem called amyloid pathology and a gene called APOEε4 in adults in Kinshasa, Congo.
- Researchers tested 85 people on memory tasks and took blood samples to see if they had amyloid pathology or the APOEε4 gene.
- Results showed that some memory scores could help tell the difference between normal brain function and problems, similar to what has been found in other countries.
Article Synopsis
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and its diagnosis often relies on expensive and invasive tests, making it difficult to manage in low-resource areas like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
- This study investigates the link between blood-based AD biomarkers and cognitive performance in a group of 81 Congolese individuals, with findings indicating that lower levels of a specific biomarker (Aβ42/40) correspond to worse cognitive test outcomes.
- The results suggest that blood-based tests could serve as more accessible screening tools for AD, but further research is needed to verify their effectiveness in larger populations.
Introduction: This study investigates whether plasma biomarkers (Aβ42/40 and p-tau 181), APS, as well as apolipoprotein E (APOE) proteotype predict cognitive deficits in elderly adults from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Methods: Forty-four with possible AD (pAD) and 41 healthy control (HC) subjects were screened using CSID and AQ, underwent cognitive assessment with the African Neuropsychology Battery (ANB), and provided blood samples for plasma Aβ42, Aβ40, Aβ42/40, and APOE proteotype. Linear and logistic regression were used to evaluate the associations of plasma biomarkers with ANB tests and the ability of biomarkers to predict cognitive status.
Background: Western studies indicate potential associations between hippocampal volume and memory in the trajectory of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, limited availability of neuroimaging technology and neuropsychological tests appropriate for sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries makes it difficult to establish neuroanatomical associations of hippocampus and memory in this locale.
Objective: This study examined hippocampal volumes and memory in healthy control (HC) and probable AD groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Introduction: Predicting caregiver burden in individuals with suspected dementia - is critical due to the debilitating nature of these disorders and need for caregiver support. While some examination of the factors affecting burden has been undertaken in Sub-Saharan Africa, each country presents with its own unique challenges and obstacles. This pilot study investigates predictors of caregiver burden in family caregivers of individuals with suspected dementia living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, poses a significant global burden. Diagnosis typically involves invasive and costly methods like neuroimaging or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker testing of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and amyloid-β (Aβ). Such procedures are especially impractical in resource-constrained regions, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Using the African Neuropsychology Battery (ANB), we seek to develop normative data by examining the demographic effects for two learning process scores: initial learning (Trial One) and learning ratio (LR, the percentage of items learned relative of to-be-learned material following Trial 1).
Methods: Healthy participants from the Democratic Republic of Congo completed the four memory tests of the ANB: the African Story Memory Test (ASMT), African List Memory Test (ALMT), African Visuospatial Memory Test (AVMT), and African Contextual Visuospatial Memory Test (ACVMT). We developed indices of learning for each subtest, as well as aggregate learning indices for Trial 1 and LR, and composite indices examining verbal, visual, contextual, and noncontextual learning, and grand indices comprising all four subtests.
Background: The prevalence of dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in French-speaking countries, has received limited attention. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of suspected dementia in elderly adults in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Methods: A community-based sample of 355 individuals over 65 years old was selected using multistage probability sampling in Kinshasa.