Document Type
Article
Department
Internal Medicine (East Africa); Imaging and Diagnostic Radiology (East Africa); Brain and Mind Institute
Abstract
Dementia rates are rising globally, with the burden increasing most rapidly in low- tomiddle-income countries. Despite this, research into Alzheimer’s disease and relateddementias (ADRD) among African populations remains limited, with existing modelsbased on Western cohorts that overlook sex-, gender-, and ancestry-specific factors.The Female Brain Health and Endocrine Research in Africa (FemBER-Africa) project,hosted at the Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, Kenya, will establish adeeply phenotyped cohort of 250 African individuals across the ADRD spectrum. Itwill assess sex-specific risk factors linked to ethnicity, lifestyle, and endocrinologicalvariables using fluid-based biomarkers (blood and saliva), neuroimaging (magneticresonance imaging and positron emission tomography), and culturally adapted cogni-tive tests. By comparing data with Western and diasporic cohorts, the study aims toidentify ancestry-specific and shared mechanisms driving ADRD risk and progression.The findings will support targeted, culturally relevant prevention and interventionstrategies, addressing the underrepresentation of African populations in globaldementia research.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70887
Recommended Citation
Momoh, C.,
Aliwa, B.,
Atwoli, L.,
Blackmon, K.,
Bosire, E.,
Gitau, S.,
Kaleli, H.,
Kamanda, C.,
Khakali, L.,
Maina, R.,
Mativo, P.,
Mbugua, S.,
Merali, Z.,
Muchungi, K.,
Njogu, A.,
Nyankira, D.,
Ondieki, A.,
Onyancha, C.,
Onyango, S.,
Shah, J.,
Shah, S.,
Smith, C.,
Sokhi, D.,
Waa, S.,
Thesen, T.
(2025). Identifying sex- and gender-specific endocrinological, lifestyle, psychosocial, and socio-cultural targets for Alzheimer's disease prevention in Africans: The Female Brain Health and Endocrine Research in Africa (FemBER-Africa) project. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 21(11), 1-12.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/bmi/483
Creative Commons License
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