Circulating Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease: Unlocking the Diagnostic Potential in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, Focusing on Africa.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is emerging as a significant public health challenge in Africa, with predictions indicating a tripling in incidence by 2050. The diagnosis of AD on the African continent is notably difficult, leading to late detection that severely limits treatment options and significantly impacts the quality of life for patients and their families. SUMMARY: This review focuses on the potential of high-sensitivity specific blood biomarkers as promising tools for improving AD diagnosis and management globally, particularly in Africa. These advances are particularly pertinent in the continent, where access to medical and technical resources is often limited. KEY MESSAGES: Identifying precise, sensitive, and specific blood biomarkers could contribute to the biological characterization and management of AD in Africa. Such advances promise to improve patient care and pave the way for new regional opportunities in pharmaceutical research and drug trials on the continent for AD.

Obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome in patients admitted in a tertiary hospital in Cameroon: Prevalence and associated factors.

PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is poorly documented in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the hospital setting. The aim of this study was to determine its prevalence and to investigate the associated factors in patients admitted in a tertiary referral hospital in Cameroon. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study conducted in the Cardiology, Endocrinology and Neurology departments of the Yaounde Central Hospital; all patients aged 21 and older were included consecutively. A sample of randomly selected patients was recorded using a portable sleep monitoring device (PMD). OSAHS was defined as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5/hour (with > 50% of events being obstructive) and moderate to severe OSAHS as an AHI > 15/hour. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated to OSAHS. RESULTS: Of the 359 patients included, 202 (56.3%) patients were women. The mean age (standard deviation) was 58 (16) years. The prevalence of OSAHS assessed by PMD (95% CI) was 57.7% (48.5-66.9%), 53.8% in men and 62.7% in women (p = 0.44). The median (25th-75th percentiles) AHI, body mass index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale score of OSAHS patients were 17 (10.6-26.9)/hour, 27.4 (24.7-31.6) kg/m2 and 7 (5-9) respectively. The only factor associated to moderate to severe OSAHS was hypertension [odds ratio (95% CI)]: 3.24 (1.08-9.72), p = 0.036. CONCLUSION: OSAHS is a common condition in patients in this health care centre of Cameroon. In the hospital setting, screening for OSAHS in patients with hypertension is recommended.

Neurocysticercosis and epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Neurocysticercosis is a public health problem and the leading cause of epilepsy in developing countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this paper, the authors review the epidemiology of cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis, as well as the non-specific clinical manifestations which render clinical diagnosis challenging especially in the sub-Saharan African context. Special attention is given to the association of epilepsy and neurocysticercosis, the former being the most common symptom of the later, and the role of the later in epileptogenesis is discussed. The state of the art guidelines regarding diagnostic tests and treatment options are discussed and proposals for prevention are made, given the specific socio-culturaland economic context of the endemic countries, mostly in SSA.