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Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: Risk factors, public perception, and management approaches
Zemichael Getu Alemayehu, Biruk Demisse Ayalew, Brook Lelisa Sime, Tsimona Dinku Bonger, Yonatan Abbawa Zewdie, Abenezer Shiferaw Keraga, Henok Wolde Nida, Temesgen Mamo Sharew et al.. Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health, 2025-06-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Dementia is becoming a major public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with prevalence increasing due to demographic transitions, increasing life expectancy, and increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. This commentary synthesizes the latest data on the epidemiology, risk factors, public perception, and management approaches for dementia in SSA, noting that although worldwide rates of dementia are increasing, SSA will experience the highest growth, which, with the current rate of increase, is projected to triple by 2050. SSA prevalence rates vary widely from 2.3% to as high as 20%, predominantly because of methodological discrepancies, lack of identification, and limited access to medical care. Incidence figures are also weak and mostly restricted to a few countries, thus potentially underestimating the true regional burden. The identified risk factors include age, gender, low educational attainment, untreated hypertension, diabetes, infectious diseases, including causes of HIV and cerebral malaria, and specific genetic predispositions, with low educational status being the most powerful modifiable factor. Stigma and misconceptions often delay diagnosis and contribute to under-reporting, compounding the burden on affected families. The sub-optimal healthcare system, lack of culturally appropriate diagnostics, and national fragmentation of epidemiological data make the situation of SSA more complex. The commentary emphasizes the importance of raising awareness, data collection method refinement, and culturally informed approaches to guide policy-making, promote research, and enhance the prevention and management of dementia in SSA, to develop locally-suited interventions to address the growing dementia epidemic.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Alemayehu, Z. G., Ayalew, B. D., Sime, B. L., Bonger, T. D., Zewdie, Y. A., Keraga, A. S., et al. (2025). Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: Risk factors, public perception, and management approaches. Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2025.100204
Vancouver
Alemayehu ZG, Ayalew BD, Sime BL, Bonger TD, Zewdie YA, Keraga AS, et al. Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: Risk factors, public perception, and management approaches. Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.glmedi.2025.100204.
BibTeX
@article{alemayehu2025-ff45c1f2,
author = {Alemayehu, Zemichael Getu and Ayalew, Biruk Demisse and Sime, Brook Lelisa and Bonger, Tsimona Dinku and Zewdie, Yonatan Abbawa and Keraga, Abenezer Shiferaw and Nida, Henok Wolde and Sharew, Temesgen Mamo and others},
title = {{Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: Risk factors, public perception, and management approaches}},
journal = {Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.glmedi.2025.100204},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2025.100204}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Incidence figures are also weak and mostly restricted to a few countries, thus potentially underestimating the true regional burden.
- The identified risk factors include age, gender, low educational attainment, untreated hypertension, diabetes, infectious diseases, including causes of HIV and cerebral malaria, and specific genetic predispositions, with low educational status being the most powerful modifiable factor.
- Stigma and misconceptions often delay diagnosis and contribute to under-reporting, compounding the burden on affected families.
- The sub-optimal healthcare system, lack of culturally appropriate diagnostics, and national fragmentation of epidemiological data make the situation of SSA more complex.
- The commentary emphasizes the importance of raising awareness, data collection method refinement, and culturally informed approaches to guide policy-making, promote research, and enhance the prevention and management of dementia in SSA, to develop locally-suited interventions to address the growing dementia epidemic.
Why it matters
This commentary describes dementia epidemiology, risk factors, and management challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, noting that low educational status is the most powerful modifiable risk factor. It is a descriptive overview and does not test any treatment or prevention intervention.
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Study details
- Effect size2.3%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health: journal h-index 25 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 18 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Biniyam Alemayehu Ayele: h-index 15 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Addis Ababa University: institution h-index 294 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.glmedi.2025.100204
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Medicine Surgery and Public Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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