Dementia becoming a time bomb in Nigeria, Africa —Expert

A Professor of Geriatric Neurology and Translational Neuroscience, Rufus Akinyemi, has warned that dementia and memory-related disorders are rapidly emerging as a major public health challenge in Nigeria and other African countries, describing the condition as a “time bomb” that demands urgent attention.

Akinyemi, who spoke during a stakeholders’ engagement on an ongoing brain health study, said projections indicate that by 2050, the majority of people living with dementia will reside in low and middle-income countries.

He said the trend highlights the urgent need for Africa-driven research to develop prevention strategies and interventions tailored to the continent’s unique realities.

“Dementia and memory problems among older people are a growing public health concern globally and across Africa. It has been documented that by 2050, there will be more people living with dementia in low and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. For countries like Nigeria, it is a time bomb,” he said.

The neurologist disclosed that researchers are expanding an ongoing study on brain health among indigenous Africans from 1,000 to 3,000 participants to gain deeper insights into the causes of memory decline and dementia.

He explained that the new phase follows the successful completion of the first stage of the VALIANT Project, during which researchers assessed memory function, cardiovascular health and physical well-being among 1,000 community members.

Akinyemi noted that the second phase will involve a follow-up assessment of the original participants, who were first evaluated three years ago, while an additional 2,000 participants will be recruited into the study.

“We are going back to evaluate those we saw three years ago to determine what changes have occurred in their memory function. We want to know whether things have improved, remained the same, or deteriorated and what factors are responsible for those changes,” he said.

READ ALSO: Maternal mortality: 5, 000 pregnant women receive free delivery kits in Oyo

The professor added that the expanded research will incorporate advanced diagnostic procedures, including brain scans, retinal imaging and hearing assessments, to provide deeper insights into the biological processes associated with memory changes.

“This time, we are conducting brain scans, retinal scans and hearing tests. We want to understand how the findings from these assessments relate to memory performance. We are also collecting blood samples and DNA to investigate the biological and molecular factors involved,” he said.

He described the project, titled: Cerebral small vessel disease and brain health in an indigenous African cohort, as one of the first large-scale studies of its kind on the African continent.

According to him, the research seeks to improve understanding of how dementia develops among indigenous Africans and generate evidence that can inform policies and public health interventions.

“The ultimate goal is prevention. We want to identify strategies based on evidence from our own people rather than importing solutions from other parts of the world. The findings from this study can help governments formulate policies that will improve the health and well-being of older persons in Nigeria,” he stated.

Akinyemi also emphasised the importance of community participation, noting that community advisory board members would play a key role in educating residents about the study and strengthening public trust in the research process.

He disclosed that the project is funded by the United States National Institute on Ageing, adding that participants will not bear any financial burden for the medical assessments involved.

“This is a sponsored research project. Participants are not required to pay for any of the tests. We aim to generate knowledge that will benefit not only those participating in the study, but also the wider community,” he added.

Akinyemi, who serves as Director of the Neuroscience and Ageing Research Unit ,at the Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, is leading the project alongside collaborators from Nigeria, the United States and the United Kingdom.

He expressed optimism that the findings would contribute to reducing the future burden of dementia in Nigeria and across Africa.

“Our ultimate goal is to reduce the projected burden of dementia in the years ahead. That is what this research is designed to achieve,” he said.