Concerns grow over the rising incidence of dementia in Nigeria

A psycho-socialist, Dotun Ajiboye, has raised the alarm over the increasing prevalence of dementia in Nigeria, stressing the need for early intervention to address the growing public health crisis.

Mr Ajiboye said on Monday that early detection would enable persons with dementia to access treatment.

According to him, dementia is defined as a syndrome, not a specific disease, explaining that it is characterised by a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life.

He said that dementia was also a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interfere with everyday activities.

“Memory loss, communication difficulties, and disorientation are just some of the symptoms people living with dementia experience, and it can be caused by a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia,” he stated.

According to him, public education to mitigate the impact of dementia in Nigeria is very important.

He called on healthcare professionals and policymakers to prioritise mental health initiatives that can improve the quality of life for those affected.

Mr Ajiboye called for a biopsychosocial approach to the management of dementia.

He urged the government to invest in biological, psychological, and social interventions that can help manage and slow down the progression of the condition.

“We need regular medical check-ups, cognitive therapy, and a strong support system for both patients and caregivers,” he said.

According to.alzheimers.org.uk, tips for everyday care for people with dementia include trying to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.

Others are to help the person write down to-do lists, appointments, and events in a notebook or calendar, plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day.

Mr Ajiboye highlighting the continuous trend, said that dementia cases in Nigeria have risen, with 63,527 cases recorded in 1995, which escalated to 318,011 by 2015.

He explained that dementia is not just an issue for high-income countries but a reality Nigerians and Africans struggle with.

According to him, for the global statistics, approximately 47.5 million people worldwide are living with dementia, a figure expected to triple by 2050.

He said that statistics was two-thirds in low- and middle-income countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa showing a dementia prevalence rate between two per cent and five per cent.

“In Nigeria, the dementia prevalence rate stands at 4.9 per cent, with women disproportionately affected at a rate of 6.7 per cent compared to 3.1 per cent in men,” he said.

The psycho-social noted that Alzheimer’s disease accounted for the majority of dementia cases in the country, representing 64.3 per cent of diagnosed cases.

Mr Ajiboye called on Nigerians to recognise that dementia was not just about ageing but also influenced by social and environmental factors that are prevalent in the country.

He also outlined several significant risk factors for dementia, including age, female gender, low BMI, and lack of education.