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:
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:
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.
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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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