Dementia and Depression in Africa

Principles and Practice of Geriatric Psychiatry, Second Edition

Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

DOI: 10.1002/0470846410.ch117

Chapter 117. Dementia and Depression in Africa

John R. M. Copeland2, Mohammed T. Abou-Saleh3 andDan G. Blazer4

Summary

Africa is a multiracial and multicultural continent. About three per cent of the population is aged 65 years or older. Older persons generally have little income, poor medical coverage, but social support in the multigenerational living arrangement seems adequate. Research into mental illnesses in old age, notably dementia and depression is limited. There have been two major studies on Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Nigeria and Egypt. The Nigerian study reported a lower prevalence rate as well as a lack of association between e4 allele of Apolipoprotein E and AD. Among the Arabs of Egypt, the prevalence rate of AD was comparable with those reported from western societies. Prevalence of AD increased with age in both studies. Dementia was the most common psychiatric disorder in a small nursing-home study in Nigeria. There are equally limited reports on depression among the elderly in Africa, but a recent study reported that 5.4% of elderly primary care attendees received AGECAT diagnosis of depression.

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