Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) was mainly considered a global health issue in high-income countries, but this perception is rapidly changing, with recent projections indicating that by 2050, 70% of dementia cases will be in low- and middle-income countries – with Africa contributing a considerable proportion of these.
A five-year pan-African strategy plan has been devised that will help counter the accompanying effects of this, they write in a recent report, in which they predict that the number of cases on this continent is expected to surge to an estimated 14m by 2050, accounting for at least 12% of global dementia cases, and a sharp increase from around 3m in 2019.
In sub-Saharan Africa, dementia cases are projected to rise from 2.13m in 2015 to 7.62m by 2050, while North Africa is anticipated to experience an even more dramatic increase, reaching 10m cases, reflecting a 367% rise in prevalence.
Beyond demographic shifts, factors such as healthcare access, diagnostic methods, genetics and environmental risks may contribute to these regional variations, experts say in a report published in Nature.
According to the authors, Africa’s over-60 population is expected to triple by 2050, ushering in “a sharp rise in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, with profound health and economic costs”.
The paper highlights a five-year strategy, headed by a pan-African task force, to address this demographic shift on the continent, focusing on “early detection, timely care, data-driven systems, and equitable innovation”.
The authors said around three-quarters of people who have Alzheimer’s – globally– are undiagnosed.
Currently, only 12 African countries submit data to the Global Dementia Observatory.
Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt already have some of the highest dementia-related disease burdens in the world, and the “6×5” plan developed by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) aims to assist countries on the continent to tackle this growing problem using low-cost innovations.
It comprises six interventions over the next five years: strengthening advocacy and health literacy, positioning brain health as a socioeconomic driver, breaking down silos of people and data, repurposing local resources, investing in artificial intelligence and digital health, and boosting research funding.
Because dementia is often linked to madness, witchcraft and demonic possession, or it is dismissed as a natural part of ageing in many African cultural settings, the authors propose health literacy campaigns aimed at establishing dementia as “a biological issue requiring immediate attention”.
Brain health as a socio-economic driver
The plan urges health policy makers to recognise brain health as a critical economic priority, and address individual and societal determinants of brain health across people’s entire lifespans.
This would start with the first 1 000 days of life, a critical phase for brain development, and include childhood education to build cognitive skills and lifelong learning opportunities.
It would also encompass women’s health initiatives to address gender disparities, initiatives to promote emotional resilience, and healthy ageing strategies that incorporate physical activity, nutrition and social engagement.
The report said a comprehensive Pan-African Resource Repurposing Strategy for Brain Health – one identifying underutilised resources and fosters sustainable, affordable and locally driven solutions – was essential, and that expertise in managing infectious diseases like HIV can be harnessed to assist in the early detection of dementia, for example.
Community health workers could be trained to identify early signs of the disease, and primary healthcare facilities serve as hubs for cognitive screening, education and management, and dementia care, which can be included in non-communicable disease (NCD) services.
Also recommended is the establishment of “a Pan-African network of research centres” steering a transdisciplinary approach to data generation and utilisation, and for “strengthening cross-sector collaboration through partnerships between health systems, governments, researchers and nongovernmental organisations” and global partnerships.
Digital the way forward
“Digital health solutions offer accessible, scalable and cost-effective alternatives to traditional healthcare approaches,” and Africa’s mobile technology “revolution” means it is well placed to adopt these, the report notes, recommending brain health is integrated into existing healthcare priorities such as maternal and child health, NCDs and social determinants of health.
To effectively implement the priority areas outlined in the 6 × 5 Plan, DAC launched a pan-African task force on brain health in March 2025.
Its organising committee is composed of the DAC, the WHO, the World Economic Forum (WEF), the World Bank, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and the African Union.
Study details
Strengthening Africa’s brain health and economic resilience
Mie Rizig, Connor McLaughlin, Vaibhav A. Narayan, Mohamed Salama et al.
Published in Nature on 7 August 2025
Abstract
Africa stands at a decisive moment in which urgent action is essential to safeguard its brain health and economic stability. While its population remains predominantly young, it is expanding and aging rapidly. This demographic shift is projected to drive a sharp rise in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, with profound health and economic costs—but brain health research, policy, funding and care across the continent remain critically underdeveloped.
In this Perspective, we examine key trends in ageing and brain health across Africa and introduce the 6 × 5 Plan—a 5-year strategic framework developed through collective multi-stakeholder insights—to address this pressing challenge. The plan targets six high-impact priorities: strengthening advocacy and health literacy, positioning brain health as a socioeconomic driver, breaking down silos of people and data, repurposing local resources, investing in artificial intelligence and digital health, and boosting research funding. To ensure effective implementation and long-term sustainability, the plan will be executed through a pan-African, multisectoral task force. This initiative seeks to accelerate Africa’s response to the needs of a changing population and position the continent as a global leader in brain health innovation.
Nature article – Strengthening Africa’s brain health and economic resilience (Open access)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03863-9
Health Policy Watch article – Pan-African Task Force to Address the Brain Health of Ageing Citizens (Open access)
Pan-African Task Force to Address the Brain Health of Ageing Citizens
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