Burden and risk factors of neurocognitive disorders in community-dwelling older persons in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Neurocognitive impairment is a major challenge globally because of the increasing proportion of older persons who are at risk. The condition is classified as either minor when one or more domains of cognition is/are affected without compromise of functional ability or major when both cognition and functioning are impaired. The important clinical types are mild cognitive impairment (MCI), vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and dementia. In the sub-Saharan Africa, MCI affects between 7% and 39% of older persons, while the age-adjusted prevalence of dementia is 4.7%. About 50% of stroke survivors develop VCI and between 8% and 15% of these progress to vascular dementia. The risk factors include old age, vascular risk factors, frailty and stress. Suggested preventive strategies aimed at reducing the burden of dementia are based on the recommendations of the Lancet Commission on Dementia.