Biomaterial Database

Down syndrome in Africa: Challenges, opportunities, and future directions. 2025

Eimear McGlinchey, and Salina Tewolde, and Amanda He, and Juan Fortea, and Lingani Mbakile-Mahlanza, and Ayda Tefera, and Emmanuel Epenge, and Jason Hassenstab, and Alexander Jäck, and Kirti Ranchod, and Shaimaa El-Jaafary, and Johannes Levin, and Mohamed Salama, and Eric Rubenstein, and Rufus Akinyemi, and Tolulope Akinyemi, and Temitope Farombi, and Brian Lawlor, and Jean Ikanga, and Nicholas J Ashton, and Sarah Stout, and Joyce Balls-Berry, and Atholl Valdon Kleinhans, and Rachel Maina, and Zul Merali

Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.

BACKGROUND As life expectancy improves for people with Down syndrome (DS) in Africa, the risk of developing DS-associated Alzheimer's disease (DSAD) will rise. There is a pressing need to plan for this emerging challenge, particularly in the context of existing health and social disparities. METHODS This work emerged from a pan-African collaboration, including discussions at the Brain Ageing and Dementia in Low- and Middle-Income Countries conference held in Nairobi in 2024, where stakeholders identified regional priorities for DS and dementia care. RESULTS Limited epidemiological, cognitive, biomarker data, delayed diagnoses, and gaps in specialized services may impact access to care. However, innovative solutions, such as mobile biomarker sampling and culturally adapted cognitive assessments, offer promising strategies. CONCLUSIONS Integrating global advances in DSAD research with Africa's strengths in community-based care offers opportunities. By prioritizing research, capacity building, and health system integration, this work advocates for the inclusion of DS in Africa's dementia strategies. CONCLUSIONS Projected increases in life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) in Africa will lead to a substantial rise in DS-associated Alzheimer's disease (DSAD), necessitating urgent planning and response. There is a critical lack of epidemiological, cognitive, and biomarker data on adults with DS in Africa, hindering accurate diagnosis, care planning, and inclusion in global research. Innovative, scalable solutions-such as mobile biomarker sampling and culturally adapted cognitive assessments-offer an opportunity to integrate scientific advances with Africa's strengths in community-based care. Investment in research and capacity building is essential to address current gaps, reduce disparities, and ensure equitable access to emerging diagnostics and treatments for DSAD across the continent.