AFRICA HOSTS INAUGURAL CONFERENCE ON BRAIN HEALTH AND DEMENTIA

BY VICTORIA MOVINE 

The inaugural conference on brain health and dementia was hosted today by the Aga Khan University’s Brain & Mind Institute in partnership with The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) and Nature Conferences in Nairobi. 

The conference dubbed The Future of Dementia in Africa: Advancing Global Partnerships, presented studies focusing on genetics of dementia in African and underrepresented populations.

The agenda was to bring together experts from across Africa and the world to address key issues and share latest research on the epidemiology of dementia, including contributing risks factors, genetic advances, clinical trials, early detection, and diagnosis.

From the discussions, challenges facing Africa in addressing dementia, including limited resources, varying levels of healthcare infrastructure, and a need for greater awareness and education were highlighted.

George Vradenburg, founding chairman of Davis Alzheimer's Collaborative, expressed his remarks as he termed the conference as a pivotal step towards providing solutions for brain health.

“These studies exemplify why we champion diverse genetic research in dementia. Each insight brings us closer to revolutionizing Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment globally. This conference marks a pivotal step towards inclusive, effective solutions for brain health across all populations,” said Mr. Vradenburg.
Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) Founding Chairman of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) Founding Chairman of the Board George Vradenburg, Aga Khan University Brain and Mind Institute Director Prof. Zul Merali and DAC Executive Vice President Strategy and Innovation Vaibhav Narayan during the inaugural conference addressing brain health, challenges and the future of dementia in Africa.

According to the statics given at the conference, Africa’s older population is expected to triple by 2050 hence addressing gaps in dementia care is more urgent than ever. 

The statistics also stated that dementia is a growing public health challenge around the world, with an estimated 150 million people expected to be living with the disease by 2050. In sub-Saharan Africa, 2.13 million were living with dementia in 2015, and this number is expected to increase to 3.48 million by 2030 and 7.62 million by 2050.

Prof. Zul Merali the Director of the Brain &Mind Institute at Aga Khan University while speaking at the conference highlighted the timeliness of the conference and why the interventions must be wholesome.

“As we look at the unique challenges faced in addressing dementia in Africa, we must be alive to the important aspect that capacity building is needed in the global south in order to enable early detection of the disease. We must also understand that lifestyle changes are important in changing the trajectory of dementia, and this is something that we must keep communicating to the public,” said Prof. Zul.

The conference was also aimed to foster new collaborations between African researchers and global partners as experts discuss how Africa's evolving healthcare landscape, presents a unique opportunity for advancing brain health solutions.

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