Abstract
BackgroundThere is a paucity of data on the prevalence and correlates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in rural Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study in a rural region of southwestern Uganda. The Brief Community Screening Instrument for Dementia was administered to a multi-stage area probability sample of 400 people aged 60 years and over. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate correlates of probable dementia.ResultsOverall, 80 (20%) of the sample screened positive for dementia. On multivariable regression, we estimated the following correlates of probable dementia: age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.02 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–1.03, p<0.001), having some formal education (AOR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.41–0.81, p = 0.001), exercise (AOR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.27–0.72, p = 0.001), and having a ventilated kitchen (AOR, 0.43; (95% CI, 0.24–0.77, p = 0.001).ConclusionsIn this population-based sample of older-age adults in rural Uganda, nearly one-fifth screened positive for dementia.
Highlights
There is a paucity of data on the prevalence and correlates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in sub-Saharan Africa
The Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities report by Alzheimer’s Disease International identified only 12 studies conducted in subSaharan Africa; of these, six were conducted in West Africa, and only one study was conducted in East Africa (Tanzania) [2]
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Summary
There is a paucity of data on the prevalence and correlates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in sub-Saharan Africa. A recent report released by Alzheimer’s Disease International estimated the ageadjusted dementia prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa to be 7.2% among those aged 60 years and over. Estimating the population prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/RD) in sub-Saharan Africa, and identifying correlates of AD/ RD, has been identified as a public health priority [2, 4]. To address this gap in the literature, we conducted a population-based study to estimate the prevalence and correlates of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/RD) in rural Uganda
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