Motor Neuron Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Need for More Population-Based Studies.

Emmanuel Quansah,Thomas K Karikari

doi:10.1155/2015/298409

Emmanuel Quansah, Thomas K Karikari

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/298409

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Abstract

Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are devastating neurological diseases that are characterised by gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons. Major types of MNDs include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). These diseases are incurable, with limited disease-modifying treatment options. In order to improve MND-based biomedical research, drug development, and clinical care, population-based studies will be important. These studies, especially among less-studied populations, might identify novel factors controlling disease susceptibility and resistance. To evaluate progress in MND research in Africa, we examined the published literature on MNDs in Sub-Saharan Africa to identify disease prevalence, genetic factors, and other risk factors. Our findings indicate that the amount of research evidence on MNDs in Sub-Saharan Africa is scanty; molecular and genetics-based studies are particularly lacking. While only a few genetic studies were identified, these studies strongly suggest that there appear to be population-specific causes of MNDs among Africans. MND genetic underpinnings vary among different African populations and also between African and non-African populations. Further studies, especially molecular, genetic and genomic studies, will be required to advance our understanding of MND biology among African populations. Insights from these studies would help to improve the timeliness and accuracy of clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Highlights

Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are a group of neurological disorders in which there is a selective loss of function of motor neurons [1]
Twenty-eight articles that matched our search criteria were selected for further analysis
These studies were conducted in a dozen countries in SSA, including South Africa (5 studies), Nigeria (5 studies), Senegal (4 studies), Mali (3 studies), Ethiopia (2 studies), multiple countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (2 studies), and Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Congo, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Sudan, and Kenya

Summary

Introduction

Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are a group of neurological disorders in which there is a selective loss of function of motor neurons [1]. The major disease types include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), primary lateral sclerosis, and progressive bulbar palsy [2]. These diseases are incurable, with limited disease-modifying treatment options [2, 3]. In ALS, for example, there are both familial and sporadic forms Different genetic factors such as mutations in the C9orf and superoxide dismutase (SOD1) genes have been linked to familial ALS [10].

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