A study reveals that adults with HIV in Malawi are over twice as likely to have dementia compared to those without HIV. The research highlights the critical burden of dementia among this demographic and calls for improved healthcare strategies in low-resource settings, especially given the aging population and rising life expectancy in Malawi.
A recent study indicates that adults living with HIV in Malawi face more than double the risk of dementia compared to their HIV-negative counterparts. This research, conducted by a collaborative team from both the United States and Malawi, emphasizes the pressing issue of dementia prevalence among those with HIV in low-resource healthcare environments. Details of the study were published in the journal “Alzheimer’s and Dementia.”
While advancements in antiretroviral therapy have extended life expectancy for individuals with HIV, this demographic also experiences an elevated risk of developing age-related health issues, including dementia. The virus’s impact leads to widespread inflammation and harmful neurological changes that escalate dementia vulnerability.
In Malawi, where 8 to 12 percent of adults are HIV-positive, longevity has improved significantly. Historically, a child born in 2000 was expected to have a life expectancy of 45 years, whereas a child born in 2021 is anticipated to live until 63 according to the World Health Organization. However, with an aging population in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a forecasted increase in dementia cases.
Haeok Lee, the study’s lead author from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, stated, “Most of what we know about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease comes from research studies in high-income countries, but less is known about dementia prevalence and risk in low- and middle-income countries.”
To assess dementia prevalence within Malawi, researchers analyzed medical records from 400 adult patients aged 30 and older at an outpatient clinic in Lilongwe. The study found that 22 percent of individuals living with HIV had dementia, while the figure was only 10 percent among those without HIV. Additionally, dementia cases increased more rapidly with age in the HIV-positive group, who were diagnosed at younger ages.
Other significant dementia risk factors included advanced age and depression for both groups, with unstable employment particularly affecting those living with HIV. Despite these findings, researchers acknowledge inherent limitations in examining the medical records, including the unreliability of paper charts and the non-standardization of diagnostic criteria.
Jonathan Ngoma, a study author from the Kamuzu Central Hospital, expressed the need for improvements, stating, “We need to do more in order for us to look after patients with dementia in low- and middle-income countries.”
Lee highlighted the necessity of establishing adequate infrastructure to manage dementia in Malawi, aiming to create contextualized cognitive assessment tools and treatment guidelines tailored to local health systems. The complete study will appear in a special issue of “Alzheimer’s and Dementia” dedicated to African dementia research.
The study illustrates the elevated risk of dementia among individuals with HIV in Malawi, emphasizing the dire need for enhanced healthcare infrastructure and tailored interventions. In recognizing the prevalence of dementia in resource-limited settings, the findings advocate for targeted efforts to improve both screening and management of dementia in the context of HIV. The collaboration between researchers from diverse institutions underscores the importance of addressing health disparities in low-income countries.
Original Source: www.nyu.edu
