Regions of the genome associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in African populations will be presented at the Future of Dementia in Africa conference on September 11-12, 2024. The studies highlight discrepancies compared to white populations and underline that a lack of diversity in genomic studies may limit the effectiveness of targeted therapies in diverse populations.
Conference on the future of dementia in Africa takes place at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. It’s one Nature Conference convened by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative and the Aga Khan University Brain and Mind Institute.
Henry Houlden from University College London, UK and colleagues in India and Nigeria will share clinical examples of ALS in African and other diverse populations and preliminary results from their genetic analysis of the first 1,000 patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and ALS dementia and diverse African, Central and South Asian backgrounds.
ALS is a fatal form of motor neuron disease that can cause cognitive changes that can lead to symptoms of dementia. The team focuses on two common genetic causes of ALS and related conditions: C9orf72 expansion and SOD1 mutation, which are currently the focus of studies into new treatments for ALS. They used state-of-the-art long-read sequencing techniques to identify population-specific variants in these two genes. This work is important for ALS and ALS dementia patients worldwide and the researchers are actively seeking other project partners.
Preliminary results from an ongoing genome-wide association study (GWAS) on Alzheimer’s disease in a Nigerian population will also be presented by researchers from UCL and the University of Lagos. The analysis found a negligible effect of APOE4 -; a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in people of European descent; in their cohort of nearly 1,200 individuals.
The study also identifies unique, disease-relevant areas of interest in this population, highlighting how diversifying GWAS studies holds the promise of uncovering more universal knowledge about neurodegenerative diseases that will better serve all populations.
Henry Houlden, professor of clinical neurology at UCL, who was involved in both studies, said: “We are delighted to share our data with researchers at the Future of dementia in Africa conference, because people in the African population are underrepresented in research into dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders. We are keen to expand our network and conduct further genome-wide association studies in different populations, to identify new risk factors and advance treatments by collaborating with clinical teams.”
The genetics of diseases are not uniform across populations and it is crucial that genetic research extends beyond European populations so that we can develop more effective treatments. To achieve this goal, genetic research must also be more inclusive and accessible to more researchers.”
Njideka Okubadejo, Professor of Neurology, University of Lagos
“These studies illustrate why we support diverse genetic research into dementia. Each insight brings us closer to a global revolution in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This conference marks a critical step toward inclusive, effective solutions for brain health across all populations,” said George Vradenburg, founding chairman, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative.
Dementia is a growing public health problem around the world, with an estimated 150 million people expected to be living with the disease by 2050. Africa is no exception: in 2015, an estimated 2.13 million people lived with dementia in sub-Saharan Africa. to 3.48 million in 2030 and 7.62 million in 2050.
Africa faces unique challenges in tackling dementia, including limited resources, varying levels of healthcare infrastructure and a need for greater awareness and education. This conference represents a pivotal moment for the continent and provides an opportunity to consolidate efforts, share knowledge and develop strategies tailored to Africa’s specific needs.
Mie Rizig, Senior Clinical Research Fellow at UCL, who is a member of the scientific committee for the Future of dementia in Africa conference said: “Global partnerships are critical to improving neurodegenerative research productivity in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa. We are thrilled with these promising data from teams at UCL and Nigeria and eagerly anticipate more successful collaborations emerging from this conference will emerge.”
The future of dementia in Africa The conference aims to address important issues and share the latest research on the epidemiology of dementia, including contributing risk factors, genetic progression, clinical trials, early detection and diagnosis.
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