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Alzheimer's: 2/3 of dementias in Senegal, an underdiagnosed disease

Auteur: Yandé Diop

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Alzheimer : 2/3 des démences au Sénégal, une maladie sous-diagnostiquée

Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline, remains largely underdiagnosed in Senegal, where it accounts for nearly two-thirds of dementia syndromes. The warning was sounded by Professor El Hadj Mactar Ba, neuropsychiatrist, neuropsychologist, and vice-president of the National Association for Alzheimer's and Other Neuro-Evolutionary Diseases (ANAMAN), during a webinar organized on the occasion of International Alzheimer's Day.

Marked prevalence and diagnostic challenges

Professor Ba recalled that the disease mainly affects the elderly, with an estimated prevalence of between 5 and 9% and an incidence of 2%, characterized by a female predominance.

However, diagnosis remains a major challenge: very few health facilities in Senegal have tools like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is essential for confirming the disease. "Apart from the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, the facilities are limited," he laments, calling for Alzheimer's to be recognized as a public health problem. A progressive disease with serious consequences Alzheimer's disease progresses in several phases:

  1. Preclinical phase: affective disorders and mild cognitive decline.
  2. Dementia phase: spatial disorientation, episodes of confusion, loss of autonomy, communication difficulties and need for assistance.

These symptoms lead to social marginalization and a reduced quality of life for both patients and their families. "The disease becomes a heavy burden, with increased dependency and a progressive loss of functional autonomy," emphasizes Professor Ba.

Solutions to slow the progression

To slow down the progression of the disease, the specialist recommends:

  1. Maintaining an active social network,
  2. Regular intellectual and physical activities,
  3. Good sleep hygiene,
  4. The implementation of a national plan against dementia, including training for frontline health professionals to improve screening and treatment.

A growing global threat

According to projections cited by the neuropsychiatrist, 44.3 million people worldwide could be affected by Alzheimer's by 2050, 71% of whom will be in developing countries. This trend calls for strengthening prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in African contexts.

Auteur: Yandé Diop
Publié le: Lundi 29 Septembre 2025

Commentaires (3)

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    Focus il y a 1 semaine

    Très important et intéressant. Merci.
    Alzheimer ou Parkinson ?
    La différence principale est que la maladie d'Alzheimer touche d'abord les fonctions mentales (mémoire, langage, jugement), tandis que la maladie de Parkinson affecte d'abord les fonctions motrices (mouvements lents, tremblements, rigidité musculaire) avant d'évoluer vers des troubles cognitifs dans un second temps

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    Ingenieur il y a 1 semaine

    Merci

  • image
    Hé! il y a 1 semaine

    @Seneweb Merci pour les précises et précieuses informations dans cet article.

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    Proposition il y a 1 semaine

    Je propose que tous les candidats ou pressentis nommés à de haute fonction ( présidence, primature, chef d'état major général, présidence de l'assemblée nationale, chefs supérieurs de la gendarmerie et de la police fassent l'objet d'examens psychologiques et mentaux. On ne sait jamais avec ces inquiétantes personnages emergentes dans la scène politique et sociale.

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    Ingenieur il y a 1 semaine

    Bonne idée ! C'est tres grave quand un chef d'etat essaye de joindre sa fille toute la journée et que la securité se voit obligée de lui arracher la calculatrice..

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