Country Level Incidence of Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias is Associated with Increased Omega6 PUFA Consumption.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical and genetic studies have implicated lipid dysfunction in Alzheimer Disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, lipid consumption at the individual-level does not vary greatly within most cohorts, and multiple lipids are rarely measured in any one study. METHODS: Mean country-level lipid intakes were compared to Age-Standardized Alzheimer-Disease-Incidence-Rates(ASAIR) in 183 countries across all inhabited continents. Penalized spline regression and multivariable-adjusted linear regression, including a lag between intake and incidence, were used to assess the relationships between five lipid intakes and ASAIR. Validation was conducted using longitudinal within-country changes between 1990 and 2019. RESULTS: Omega6 Polyunsaturated-Fatty-Acid(PUFA) intake exhibited a positive linear relationship with ASAIR(multivariable-adjusted model: ß=2.44; 95%CI: 1.70, 3.19; p=1.38×10 -9 ). ASAIR also increased with saturated-fat, trans-fat, and dietary-cholesterol up to a threshold. The association between Omega6-PUFA and ASAIR was confirmed using longitudinal intake changes. DISCUSSION: Decreasing Omega6-PUFA consumption on the country-level may have substantial benefits in reducing the country-level burden of AD.

Towards Improving Stroke Services in Africa: Results from the Africa-UK Stroke Partnership [AUKSP] Surveys.

BACKGROUND: The African Stroke Organization (ASO) in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire's Stroke Research Team launched the Africa-UK Stroke Partnership (AUKSP). AUKSP undertook two (stroke expert and hospital Stroke Unit (SU)) on-line surveys mapping existing capacity and capability to deliver African stroke care. METHODS: An on-line expert survey tool was sent to 139 stroke experts in 54 African countries October 2021- March 2022 and the hospital SU survey to 120 hospital SUs (identified from the expert survey) June-October 2022. Both survey tools were prepared according to the World Stroke Organisation's Roadmap for Delivering Quality Stroke Care. Completed responses were exported from Qualtrics into Microsoft excel and were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: Forty-five expert responses and 62 hospital SU responses were analysed, representing 54(87%) public hospitals, 7(11%) private and 1(2%) charitable organization. In both surveys, three main priorities for improvement of stroke services were: a rapid and prompt stroke diagnosis; effective primary and secondary stroke prevention, and acute stroke management. Survey findings suggest that there is a low presence of national stroke surveillance systems and registries, and heterogeneity in availability of diagnostic services, SUs, endovascular treatments, and rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Significant gaps exist in Africa's capacity and capability to deliver essential elements of effective and quality stroke care. Tackling these challenges requires urgent and sustained multi-stakeholder action including: government, administrators, policy makers and other partners. Our survey findings highlight key priority areas for multi-stakeholder engagement and crafting of a pragmatic, prioritized and context-sensitive African Stroke Action Plan.

Extended genome-wide association study employing the African genome resources panel identifies novel susceptibility loci for Alzheimer's disease in individuals of African ancestry.

INTRODUCTION: Despite a two-fold risk, individuals of African ancestry have been underrepresented in Alzheimer's disease (AD) genomics efforts. METHODS: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 2,903 AD cases and 6,265 controls of African ancestry. Within-dataset results were meta-analyzed, followed by functional genomics analyses. RESULTS: A novel AD-risk locus was identified in MPDZ on chromosome (chr) 9p23 (rs141610415, MAF = 0.002, P = 3.68×10-9). Two additional novel common and nine rare loci were identified with suggestive associations (P < 9×10-7). Comparison of association and linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns between datasets with higher and lower degrees of African ancestry showed differential association patterns at chr12q23.2 (ASCL1), suggesting that this association is modulated by regional origin of local African ancestry. DISCUSSION: These analyses identified novel AD-associated loci in individuals of African ancestry and suggest that degree of African ancestry modulates some associations. Increased sample sets covering as much African genetic diversity as possible will be critical to identify additional loci and deconvolute local genetic ancestry effects. HIGHLIGHTS: Genetic ancestry significantly impacts risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Although individuals of African ancestry are twice as likely to develop AD, they are vastly underrepresented in AD genomics studies. The Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium has previously identified 16 common and rare genetic loci associated with AD in African American individuals. The current analyses significantly expand this effort by increasing the sample size and extending ancestral diversity by including populations from continental Africa. Single variant meta-analysis identified a novel genome-wide significant AD-risk locus in individuals of African ancestry at the MPDZ gene, and 11 additional novel loci with suggestive genome-wide significance at P < 9×10-7. Comparison of African American datasets with samples of higher degree of African ancestry demonstrated differing patterns of association and linkage disequilibrium at one of these loci, suggesting that degree and/or geographic origin of African ancestry modulates the effect at this locus. These findings illustrate the importance of increasing number and ancestral diversity of African ancestry samples in AD genomics studies to fully disentangle the genetic architecture underlying AD, and yield more effective ancestry-informed genetic screening tools and therapeutic interventions.

Maintenance of brain health: The role of social determinants of health and other non-traditional cardiovascular risks.

Brain health is the complete functioning of the brain across the life course to support the full physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being and quality of life of an individual towards attaining and maintaining the epitome of a meaningful, impactful, purposeful, and productive life. The determinants of brain health are complex and include at least in part, non-traditional risks such as interactions among social, economic, physical, and internal factors (e.g., emotions and adaptations to changing life experiences), and external factors such as environment, geography, and climate change. Thus, social determinants of health (e.g., where we work, live, and play) are those non-medical factors that influence health outcomes, and as non-traditional cardiovascular factors, may influence the development of traditional cardiovascular risks. Examples of the non-traditional cardiovascular factors include environmental stressors (e.g., climate change, air pollution), and psychological and physical abuse. In this article, we provide a discussion of social determinants of health and other non-traditional cardiovascular risks as they relate to brain health.

Evaluating the knowledge of stroke management among Nigerian medical doctors.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Nigeria. Effective stroke management is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Few trained neurologists in Nigeria are mostly concentrated in the cities, making non-specialists the backbone of acute stroke management in Nigeria. Physicians-related factors have been identified as one of the factors leading to sub-optimal stroke care. This study aimed to describe the knowledge of medical doctors in acute stroke care and the factors responsible for the disparity in their skills. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 404 medical doctors across all the six geo-political zones in Nigeria using the Acute Stroke Management Questionnaire (ASMaQ). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and simple logistics regression to predict the relationship between independent variables and the outcome variable (good knowledge vs poor knowledge). RESULTS: 67 % (95 % CI =63-72 %) of respondents had good overall knowledge of stroke management. Most respondents [88.6 %, 95 % CI =85-92 %] had good knowledge of General Stroke Knowledge (GSK) followed by Hyperacute Stroke Management (HSM) [52.5 %, 95 % CI=47.3-57.7 %] and Advanced Stroke Management (ASM) [49.5 %, 95 %CI= 49.5-54.4 %]. Working in a primary healthcare center (PHCs) and government hospital were significant predictor of overall poor knowledge of stroke. Physicians at PHCs had 2.29 times the odds of poor knowledge compared to those in tertiary hospital CONCLUSIONS: It is essential to retrain doctors on stroke management regularly, as part of their professional development.

The 2022 symposium on dementia and brain aging in low- and middle-income countries: Highlights on research, diagnosis, care, and impact.

Two of every three persons living with dementia reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The projected increase in global dementia rates is expected to affect LMICs disproportionately. However, the majority of global dementia care costs occur in high-income countries (HICs), with dementia research predominantly focusing on HICs. This imbalance necessitates LMIC-focused research to ensure that characterization of dementia accurately reflects the involvement and specificities of diverse populations. Development of effective preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for dementia in LMICs requires targeted, personalized, and harmonized efforts. Our article represents timely discussions at the 2022 Symposium on Dementia and Brain Aging in LMICs that identified the foremost opportunities to advance dementia research, differential diagnosis, use of neuropsychometric tools, awareness, and treatment options. We highlight key topics discussed at the meeting and provide future recommendations to foster a more equitable landscape for dementia prevention, diagnosis, care, policy, and management in LMICs. HIGHLIGHTS: Two-thirds of persons with dementia live in LMICs, yet research and costs are skewed toward HICs. LMICs expect dementia prevalence to more than double, accompanied by socioeconomic disparities. The 2022 Symposium on Dementia in LMICs addressed advances in research, diagnosis, prevention, and policy. The Nairobi Declaration urges global action to enhance dementia outcomes in LMICs.

Stroke occurrence by hypertension treatment status in Ghana and Nigeria: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is preeminent among the vascular risk factors for stroke occurrence. The wide gaps in awareness, detection, treatment, and control rates of hypertension are fueling an epidemic of stroke in sub-Saharan Africa. PURPOSE: To quantify the contribution of untreated, treated but uncontrolled, and controlled hypertension to stroke occurrence in Ghana and Nigeria. METHODS: The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) is a case-control study across 16 study sites in Ghana and Nigeria. Cases were acute stroke (n = 3684) with age- and sex-matched stroke-free controls (n = 3684). We evaluated the associations of untreated hypertension, treated but uncontrolled hypertension, and controlled hypertension at BP of <140/90 mmHg with risk of stroke occurrence. We assessed the adjusted odds ratio and population-attributable risk of hypertension treatment control status associated with stroke occurrence. RESULTS: The frequencies of no hypertension, untreated hypertension, treated but uncontrolled hypertension and controlled hypertension among stroke cases were 4.0%, 47.7%, 37.1%, and 9.2% vs 40.7%, 34.9%, 15.9%, and 7.7% respectively among stroke-free controls, p < 0.0001. The aOR and PAR (95% CI) for untreated hypertension were 6.58 (5.15-8.41) and 35.4% (33.4-37.4); treated but uncontrolled hypertension was 9.95 (7.60-13.02) and 35.9% (34.2-37.5); and controlled hypertension 5.37 (3.90-7.41) and 8.5% (7.6-9.5) respectively. Untreated hypertension contributed a PAR of 47.5% to the occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage vs 29.5% for ischemic stroke. The aOR of untreated hypertension for stroke occurrence was 13.31 (7.64-23.19) for <50 years; 7.14 (4.51-11.31) for 50-64 years; and 3.48 (2.28-5.30) for 65 years or more. CONCLUSION: The contribution of untreated hypertension and treated but uncontrolled hypertension to stroke occurrence among indigenous Africans is substantial. Implementing targeted interventions that address gaps in hypertension prevention and treatment, involving the local population, healthcare providers, and policymakers, can potentially substantially reduce the escalating burden of strokes in Africa.

ACHIEVE conference proceedings: implementing action plans to reduce and control hypertension burden in Africa.

The prevalence of hypertension, the commonest risk factor for preventable disability and premature deaths, is rapidly increasing in Africa. The African Control of Hypertension through Innovative Epidemiology, and a Vibrant Ecosystem [ACHIEVE] conference was convened to discuss and initiate the co-implementation of the strategic solutions to tame this burden toward achieving a target of 80% for awareness, treatment, and control by the year 2030. Experts, including the academia, policymakers, patients, the WHO, and representatives of various hypertension and cardiology societies generated a 12-item communique for implementation by the stakeholders of the ACHIEVE ecosystem at the continental, national, sub-national, and local (primary) healthcare levels.

Novel functional insights into ischemic stroke biology provided by the first genome-wide association study of stroke in indigenous Africans.

BACKGROUND: African ancestry populations have the highest burden of stroke worldwide, yet the genetic basis of stroke in these populations is obscure. The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) is a multicenter study involving 16 sites in West Africa. We conducted the first-ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of stroke in indigenous Africans. METHODS: Cases were consecutively recruited consenting adults (aged > 18 years) with neuroimaging-confirmed ischemic stroke. Stroke-free controls were ascertained using a locally validated Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status. DNA genotyping with the H3Africa array was performed, and following initial quality control, GWAS datasets were imputed into the NIH Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) release2 from BioData Catalyst. Furthermore, we performed fine-mapping, trans-ethnic meta-analysis, and in silico functional characterization to identify likely causal variants with a functional interpretation. RESULTS: We observed genome-wide significant (P-value < 5.0E-8) SNPs associations near AADACL2 and miRNA (MIR5186) genes in chromosome 3 after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiac status in the base model as covariates. SNPs near the miRNA (MIR4458) gene in chromosome 5 were also associated with stroke (P-value < 1.0E-6). The putative genes near AADACL2, MIR5186, and MIR4458 genes were protective and novel. SNPs associations with stroke in chromosome 2 were more than 77 kb from the closest gene LINC01854 and SNPs in chromosome 7 were more than 116 kb to the closest gene LINC01446 (P-value < 1.0E-6). In addition, we observed SNPs in genes STXBP5-AS1 (chromosome 6), GALTN9 (chromosome 12), FANCA (chromosome 16), and DLGAP1 (chromosome 18) (P-value < 1.0E-6). Both genomic regions near genes AADACL2 and MIR4458 remained significant following fine mapping. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings identify potential roles of regulatory miRNA, intergenic non-coding DNA, and intronic non-coding RNA in the biology of ischemic stroke. These findings reveal new molecular targets that promise to help close the current gaps in accurate African ancestry-based genetic stroke's risk prediction and development of new targeted interventions to prevent or treat stroke.

Dietary patterns associated with hypertension among stroke-free indigenous Africans: insights from the Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network study.

BACKGROUND: The dietary factors associated with the high burden of hypertension among indigenous Africans remain poorly understood. We assessed the relationship between dietary patterns and hypertension among indigenous Africans. METHOD: In this study, 1550 participants with hypertension matched (for age: ±â€Š5 years, sex and ethnicity) with 1550 participants without hypertension were identified from the stroke-free population in the Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network study in Ghana and Nigeria. Food consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and dietary information was summarized using principal component analysis to identify seven dietary patterns. Conditional logistic regression was applied to compute the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of hypertension by tertiles of dietary patterns adjusting for age, education, income, smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, family history of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and salt intake at a two-sided P less than 0.05. RESULTS: Multivariable-adjusted OR [95% confidence interval (CI)] for risk of hypertension by second and third tertiles [using the lowest (first) tertile as reference] of dietary patterns were 0.62 (0.48-0.80), 0.70 (0.54-0.90) for whole grains and fruit drinks; 0.87 (0.68-1.12), 0.83 (0.64-1.08) for fruits; 0.85 (0.65-1.10), 0.97 (0.75-1.26) for vegetables, legumes and potatoes; 0.78 (0.60-1.00), 0.84 (0.65-1.08) for fried foods and sweetened drinks; 1.13 (0.88-1.45), 0.80 (0.62-1.03) for poultry product and organ meat; 1.11 (0.86-1.43), 0.88 (0.68-1.14) for red meat; and 1.14 (0.88-1.48), 1.09 (0.84-1.43) for processed foods ( P  < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A higher adherence to dietary consumption of whole grains and fruits was inversely associated with low odds of hypertension in this population.

Factors associated with frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption among selected sub-Saharan African populations: evidence from the Cardiovascular H3Africa Innovation Resource Project.

BACKGROUND: Frequent fruit and vegetable consumption is considered a promising dietary behaviour that protects health. However, most existing studies about the factors associated with this phenomenon among Africans are based on single-country reports, apart from one meta-regression combining smaller studies. This study harmonized large datasets and assessed factors associated with the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption in this population. METHODS: Individual-level data on sociodemographics, lifestyle and diet from 20 443 participants across five African countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria), from the Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) and Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic Research (AWI-Gen) studies, were harmonized. Total frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption (in portions/week) was classified as 'low' (≤6), 'moderate' (7-14) and 'high' (≥15). Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of factors associated with the total frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption (using 'low' consumption as the reference) were estimated using multinomial regression models. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 54.3 ± 11.8 years, 10 641 (52.1%) were female, and the median (interquartile range) frequency of total fruit and vegetable consumption was 10.0 (4.0, 21.0) portions/week. Participants with a family history of cardiovascular disease [moderate (aOR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85, 1.00) and high (aOR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78, 0.92)], current smokers [moderate (aOR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74, 0.94) and high (aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.69, 0.88)], current alcohol users [moderate (aOR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85, 1.00) and high (aOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76, 0.89)] and physically inactive participants [moderate (aOR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75, 0.96) and high (aOR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70, 0.90)] were less likely to consume fruits and vegetables frequently. CONCLUSION: Africans with lifestyle risk factors for cardiovascular disease were less likely to consume fruit and vegetables frequently.

Current perspectives on prevention of vascular cognitive impairment and promotion of vascular brain health.

INTRODUCTION: The true global burden of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is unknown. Reducing risk factors for stroke and cardiovascular disease would inevitably curtail VCI. AREAS COVERED: The authors review current diagnosis, epidemiology, and risk factors for VCI. VCI increases in older age and by inheritance of known genetic traits. They emphasize modifiable risk factors identified by the 2020 Lancet Dementia Commission. The most profound risks for VCI also include lower education, cardiometabolic factors, and compromised cognitive reserve. Finally, they discuss pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. EXPERT OPINION: By virtue of the high frequencies of stroke and cardiovascular disease the global prevalence of VCI is expectedly higher than prevalent neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia. Since ~ 90% of the global burden of stroke can be attributed to modifiable risk factors, a formidable opportunity arises to reduce the burden of not only stroke but VCI outcomes including progression from mild to the major in form of vascular dementia. Strict control of vascular risk factors and secondary prevention of cerebrovascular disease via pharmacological interventions will impact on burden of VCI. Non-pharmacological measures by adopting healthy diets and encouraging physical and cognitive activities and urging multidomain approaches are important for prevention of VCI and preservation of vascular brain health.

Non-cigarette tobacco use and stroke among West Africans: evidence from the SIREN study.

INTRODUCTION: Non-cigarette tobacco (NCT) represents a form of tobacco use with a misperceived significance in chronic disease events. Whether NCT use is sufficient to promote stroke events, especially among Africans, is yet to be understood. This study assessed the relationship between NCT use and stroke among indigenous Africans. METHODS: A total of 7,617 respondents (NCT users: 41 vs. non-NCT: 7576) from the Stroke Investigation Research and Educational Network study were included in the current analysis. NCT use was defined as self-reported use of smoked (cigars or piper) or smokeless (snuff or chewed) tobacco in the past year preceding stroke events. Stroke was defined based on clinical presentation and confirmed with a cranial CT/MRI. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the relationship between NCT and stroke at p<0.05. RESULTS: Out of the 41 (0.54%) who reported NCT use, 27 (65.9%) reported using smokeless NCT. NCT users were older than non-smokers (62.8±15.7 vs 57.7±14.8 years). Overall, NCT use was associated with first-ever stroke (OR: 2.08; 95%CI: 1.02, 4.23) in the entire sample. Notably, smokeless NCT use was independently associated with higher odds of stroke (OR: 2.74; 95%CI: 1.15, 6.54), but smoked NCT use (OR: 0.16; 95%CI: 0.02, 1.63) presented a statistically insignificant association after adjusting for hypertension and other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: NCT use was associated with higher odds of stroke, and public health interventions targeting NCT use might be promising in reducing the burden of stroke among indigenous Africans. IMPLICATIONS: A detailed understanding of the relationship between NCT use and stroke will likely inform well-articulated policy guidance to promote evidence-based recommendations for public health prevention and management of stroke on the African continent.

Research participants' perception of ethical issues in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research in Africa.

Background: There is a growing interest in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research in Africa. These raise several ethical issues, such as consent, re-use, data sharing, storage, and incidental result of biological samples. Despite the availability of ethical guidelines developed for research in Africa, there is paucity of information on how the research participants' perspectives could guide the research community on ethical issues in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research. To explore African research participants' perspectives on these issues, a study was conducted at existing Stroke Investigation Research and Education Network (SIREN) sites in Nigeria and Ghana. Method: Using an exploratory design, twenty-eight Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) sessions were conducted with stroke survivors (n=7), caregivers(n=7), stroke - free controls(n=7), and Community Advisory Board members(n=7). Data were collected using an interview guide. Interviews were conducted in English and indigenous languages of the community, audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using NVivo (March, 2020) Software. Result: Results revealed that stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research in Africa require researchers' direct attention to ethical issues. Concerns were raised about understanding, disclosure and absence of coercion as components of true autonomous decision making in research participation. Participants argued that the risk and benefits attached to participation should be disclosed at the time of recruitment. Fears around data sharing were voiced as adherence to the principle of privacy and confidentiality were of paramount importance to participants. The preference was to receive the results of incidental findings with no stigma attached from society. Conclusion: Research participants' perspectives are a vital aspect of community engagement in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research. Findings from this study suggest that research participants are interested in these fields of research in Africa if their concerns about ethical issues are appropriately addressed within the research framework.

Risk Assessment Score and Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection Algorithm for Hypertension Among Africans: Models From the SIREN Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop a risk-scoring model for hypertension among Africans. METHODS: In this study, 4413 stroke-free controls were used to develop the risk-scoring model for hypertension. Logistic regression models were applied to 13 risk factors. We randomly split the dataset into training and testing data at a ratio of 80:20. Constant and standardized weights were assigned to factors significantly associated with hypertension in the regression model to develop a probability risk score on a scale of 0 to 1 using a logistic regression model. The model accuracy was assessed to estimate the cutoff score for discriminating hypertensives. RESULTS: Mean age was 59.9±13.3 years, 56.0% were hypertensives, and 8 factors, including diabetes, age ≥65 years, higher waist circumference, (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2, lack of formal education, living in urban residence, family history of cardiovascular diseases, and dyslipidemia use were associated with hypertension. Cohen κ was maximal at ≥0.28, and a total probability risk score of ≥0.60 was adopted for both statistical weighting for risk quantification of hypertension in both datasets. The probability risk score presented a good performance-receiver operating characteristic: 64% (95% CI, 61.0-68.0), a sensitivity of 55.1%, specificity of 71.5%, positive predicted value of 70.9%, and negative predicted value of 55.8%, in the test dataset. Similarly, decision tree had a predictive accuracy of 67.7% (95% CI, 66.1-69.3) for the training set and 64.6% (95% CI, 61.0-68.0) for the testing dataset. CONCLUSIONS: The novel risk-scoring model discriminated hypertensives with good accuracy and will be helpful in the early identification of community-based Africans vulnerable to hypertension for its primary prevention.

Biomarkers and Risk Assessment of Alzheimer's Disease in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Dementia is a chronic syndrome which is common among the elderly and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality for patients and their caregivers. Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of clinical dementia, is biologically characterized by the deposition of amyloid-ß plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. The onset of AD begins decades before manifestation of symptoms and clinical diagnosis, underlining the need to shift from clinical diagnosis of AD to a more objective diagnosis using biomarkers. Having performed a literature search of original articles and reviews on PubMed and Google Scholar, we present this review detailing the existing biomarkers and risk assessment tools for AD. The prevalence of dementia in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is predicted to increase over the next couple of years. Thus, we aimed to identify potential biomarkers that may be appropriate for use in LMICs, considering the following factors: sensitivity, specificity, invasiveness, and affordability of the biomarkers. We also explored risk assessment tools and the potential use of artificial intelligence/machine learning solutions for diagnosing, assessing risks, and monitoring the progression of AD in low-resource settings. Routine use of AD biomarkers has yet to gain sufficient ground in clinical settings. Therefore, clinical diagnosis of AD will remain the mainstay in LMICs for the foreseeable future. Efforts should be made towards the development of low-cost, easily administered risk assessment tools to identify individuals who are at risk of AD in the population. We recommend that stakeholders invest in education, research and development targeted towards effective risk assessment and management.