Prevalence of vascular dementia and alcohol associated risk factors among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract

Background: Vascular dementia, a devastating cognitive illness, has become a growing global problem. Understanding the prevalence of vascular dementia and its association with alcohol-related risk factors is critical for effective public health efforts, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where healthcare difficulties are exacerbated by an ageing population and changing lifestyle patterns. This dissertation presents a comprehensive systematic investigation that tries to shed light on the complex relationship between the prevalence of vascular dementia and alcohol-related hazards among individuals in Sub- Saharan Africa.

Methods: To achieve this, the study focused on specific objectives: firstly, assessing the prevalence of vascular dementia among adults in the region; secondly, identifying the demographic and clinical features linked to the condition; and finally, examining the correlation between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing vascular dementia in sub-Saharan Africa, while considering consumption patterns and related factors.

Results: A total of 1,253 studies were located through database searches and references (n=28), yielding 1,281 entries. After removing 561 duplicates, 720 records were reviewed. 334 with erroneous titles and 188 with useless abstracts were removed. From the remaining 198 reports, 17 were removed for being done outside of Sub-Saharan Africa, 14 for not being in English, and 113 for not covering the alcohol and vascular dementia theme. In addition, 15 review articles were removed, and 11 reports were removed for other reasons. Finally, the review included eight papers (Besigye et al., 2016; Ochayi and Thacher, 2006; Guerchet et al., 2010; Raquel et al., 2021; Paraso et al., 2011; Gureje et al., 2006; Adeyemi et al., 2015; Guerchet et al., 2009).

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the scarcity of studies specific to Sub-Saharan Africa, indicating the necessity for additional research. However, present research reveals a considerable link between alcohol intake and the prevalence of vascular dementia, highlighting the necessity of treating alcohol-related risk factors as part of preventive interventions.