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Lire en français Researchers have adapted a diagnostic tool that could enhance early detection of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in Africa. The adapted tool, the focus of a study in
_Frontiers in Dementia_,1 has shown promise in addressing the unique diagnostic challenges on the continent. The research team believes that the adaptation will improve accuracy and
accessibility for early diagnosis in African populations. The Brain Health Assessment (BHA) is a simple, digital cognitive assessment tool designed to detect early cognitive impairments,
including dementia. The tool, which is part of the Tablet-based Cognitive Assessment Tool (TabCAT), has shown sensitivity to cognitive impairments in various settings. This study aimed to
adapt the BHA for use in southeast Nigeria, where culturally appropriate cognitive assessment tools are lacking, especially in resource-poor health facilities. “The lack of culturally
appropriate cognitive assessment tools delays early detection,” Chukwuanugo Ogbuagu, the study’s lead author, and Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at University of California’s
Global Brain Health Institute, Memory and Ageing Center told Nature Africa. There is a growing need for effective tools to diagnose cognitive disorders such as dementia. The team conducted
tests with 30 participants, including 15 healthcare workers and 15 community members, examining BHA subtests across local languages (Pidgin and Igbo) spoken at the two geriatric clinics. The
researchers made changes to the memory and visuospatial subtests that the participants recommended were not suited for the region. For memory tests the study suggested replacing some of the
existing animal and food types with more familiar ones from the community, while recommending change of terminology for visuospatial tests to make it more regionally appropriate. “This
proactive approach not only facilitates early detection and intervention for cognitive impairment but also fosters community awareness and acceptance, combatting the stigma often associated
with aging-related conditions like dementia,” the authors wrote. Ogbuagu, called for the introduction of brain health assessment in PHCs to demystify cognitive impairments often wrongly
categorized as caused by spiritual or supernatural powers and not medical conditions, leading to affected individuals being subjected to stigma and violence in some communities.