DEMENTIA is a growing global health concern but it is possible to prevent or delay nearly half of the cases by addressing 14 risk factors, including excessive alcohol, less education, obesity, high levels of bad cholesterol and physical inactivity, beginning in childhood.
Rufus Akinyemi, a professor of geriatric neurology and translational neuroscience and the lead for the Africa Dementia Consortium said this in his presentation titled “Advances in Genetics and Dementia in Africa: findings from the READD-ADSP” at the 2-day Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Ibadan.
Professor Akinyemi stated these risk factors cut across childhood, midlife and late life, but addressing the majority of risk factors in midlife, such as hearing loss, high levels of bad cholesterol, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, and obesity, had the biggest impact in postponing or preventing the onset of dementia later in life.
He said ongoing genomic studies, including in Sub-Saharan Africa, are focused on understanding genes linked with Alzheimer’s disease in a bid to develop new diagnostics, new therapeutics, and new clinical approaches for the different subtypes of dementia.
According to him, the Recruitment and Retention for AD Diversity Genetic Cohorts Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project (REAAD-ADSP) project) was one of such studies instituted to understand Alzheimer’s disease, including genes associated with the condition in Africa.
He declared that in addition to the established Apolipoprotein (APOE) gene linked with Alzheimer’s disease, the (REAAD-ADSP) project has also identified 3 genes with nominal significance in Alzheimer’s disease in Africa.
Dr Lawrence Adebusoye, a family physician and geriatrician at the Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Centre of the University College Hospital, Ibadan declared that although genes can predispose having Alzheimer’s disease, a chronic brain failure common with ageing, there are proactive steps to reduce one’s risk and ensure quality of life at old age.
According to him, these protective lifestyle measures include weight control, alcohol moderation, smoking cessation, health promotion, exercise and healthy and diverse food intake.
“Prevention of obesity reduces the cases of dementia by 1 per cent; alcohol intake in moderation ensures a 1 per cent reduction in cases of dementia; there is a 2 per cent reduction in cases of dementia with smoking cessation, and health promotion measures like hearing loss, social isolation, air pollution and depression prevention can reduce dementia risk by 7percent, 5percent, 3percent and 3percent respectively,” he added.
Dr Tejiri Napoleon, in his presentation on novel therapies in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, stated that there is a need to explore more on the therapies for dementia, as the available therapies are not curative.
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“Investing in research, involving a larger population as well as diverse races is crucial for proffering tailored therapeutically pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of dementia,” he added.
President of the College Research and Innovation Hub, Mr Oluwatimilehin Oladapo declared that Africa faces a rapidly growing dementia burden, yet research gaps persist.
He urged an expansion in dementia surveillance across African countries and advancement of genomic research to uncover African-specific risk gene variants while ensuring an equitable access to dementia care as well as a global collaboration to integrate Africa into the global dementia research landscape.
Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Temidayo Ogundiran, represented by Prof Godwin Ogbole said the brain is complex part of human body and dementia is wide field with many questions still to be answered.
He said the conference was a unique opportunity for young researchers to delve into a unique area of neuroscience research, including how to arrest or manage dementia, particularly with its increasing cases in Africa.
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