Objectifs scientifiques et projet de recherche

Brain health and cognitive ageing in West Africa face several unique challenges that span across socioeconomic, health, environmental, and cultural dimensions. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is the second region in the world to experience a spectacular increase in the number of people aged 65 and over (+218% between 2019 and 2050) (United Nations, 2019). Concomitantly to demographic ageing, the burden of disease is shifting to chronic and non-communicable diseases due to people living longer and changes in their lifestyles and behaviours that predispose them to certain risk factors (epidemiological transition). The population burden of physical and cognitive impairment will increase while the societal implications of population ageing and the experiences of ageing in SSA remain poorly understood. In a region where socioeconomic factors, environmental and cultural factors (including stigma and traditional beliefs) can vary widely and cause inequalities, brain health could be compromised, posing significant risks not only to the overall health and well-being of individuals, but also to global development. However, health systems have little capacity to address old age-related health needs or chronic conditions due to limited access and trained workforce as well as diagnostic challenges. The lack of research on brain health and cognitive ageing therefore adds to the weak advocacy and policy architecture on ageing and health in SSA despite the emergence of regional and national frameworks from the United Nations or the World Health Organization (WHO). In this context, the Cognitive Ageing and Brain Health in West Africa (CABHWA) network will bring together researchers, clinicians and members of the civil society in a multidisciplinary framework to promote research on cognitive ageing and brain health in the West African region. The network will focus on the following specific objectives: - Establish a platform for exchange between researchers, in order to enhance opportunities and knowledge sharing, skills development, organise internships/mobility between partners, and promote overall capacity building (especially for early career researchers). - Identify, adapt and harmonize cognitive assessments used in studies to screen for or diagnose impairment in different populations in order to support efforts to generate comparable data across the region. - Identify awareness strategies to promote brain health initiatives / campaigns that are relevant to the region and/or each country. - Identify appropriate public health interventions that can be tested and promoted to associations and/or health authorities to help reduce the burden reduction in West African populations.

Unités IRD impliquées

• Département société et santé (SAS)
• EPIMACT
• GHIGS
• Département sociétés et mondialisation (SOC)
• CEPED

Institutions membres

IRD : Institut de recherche pour le développement

INSERM : Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale

Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC)

University of Ghana

University of Ibadan

UCAD : Université Cheikh Anta Diop

UGB : Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis

UADB : Université Alioune Diop de Bambey

Université de Lomé

UAC : Université d'Abomey-Calavi

Objectif(s) du développement durable ciblé(s)

ODD10 - INEGALITES REDUITES

ODD13 - MESURES RELATIVES A LA LUTTE CONTRE LES CHANGEMENTS CLIMATIQUES