Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) has launched the Brain Resilience Kenya Study as a major step forward for brain health research. Unveiled on September 10, 2024, the study seeks to investigate how various life stressors contribute to cognitive decline and dementia in Kenyan adults, to provide critical insights into brain ageing and resilience in Africa’s rapidly evolving socio-economic landscape.

Led by Dr. Zul Merali, Founding Director of BMI, the study is timely given the continent’s demographic shift. "By 2050, Africa is projected to have the world’s largest population of people over 60," Dr. Merali stated during the launch. "This shift presents challenges as economic, social, and health-related stressors increasingly impact brain health. Understanding how the brain remains resilient under these conditions is vital for improving millions of lives."

Supported by global research partners Wellcome Leap and Temasek Trust, the study will assess how the brain responds to stressors like illness, poverty, substance abuse, and climate change. Researchers aim to develop interventions to prevent or delay dementia and cognitive decline.

Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President and Vice-Chancellor of Aga Khan University, stressed the urgent need for this research: "Dementia is devastating not only for patients but also for their families, placing a heavy burden on caregivers."

With an emphasis on cultural sensitivity, the Brain Resilience Kenya Study represents one of Africa's most comprehensive brain health research efforts, aiming to provide solutions tailored to the continent’s unique challenges.

 

Article by Jed Mwangi

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https://www.aku.edu/news/Pages/News_Details.aspx?nid=NEWS-003367