Alzheimer Disease: UITH commences intensive research

Experts in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) have commenced intensive research on Alzheimer’s Disease. The program is under the African Dementia Consortium (AfDC), titled “Recruitment and Retention for Alzheimer’s Disease Diversity Genetic Cohorts in the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project Consortia (ADSP).”

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A prominent researcher in UITH, Prof. Kolawole Wahab, of the Department of Medicine, had done research on various diseases, including stroke, and delivered a paper in his Inaugural Lecture entitled: “In the Quest for a Masterstroke for Stroke.”

Wahab, who spoke on the project at a meeting organised for Community Advisory Board members and Research Team in Ilorin on Friday, said the project is an international study on Alzheimer’s Disease.

According to him, Nigeria is one of the countries where extensive research will be carried out in various cities, including Ibadan, Lagos, Zaria, Ilorin and Abeokuta, among others. He described Alzheimer’s disease as a brain disorder that gets worse over time.

According to him, the disease is characterized by changes in the brain that lead to deposits of certain proteins.

He added that “Alzheimer’s disease causes the brain to shrink and brain cells to eventually die. It is the most common cause of dementia, which causes gradual decline in memory, thinking, behaviour and social skills.”

The expert lamented that these changes affect a person’s ability to function, pointing out that “the disease is a huge burden in Africa, especially in Nigeria, couple with the fact that there is no data to show the exact number of sufferers.

“It is a common degenerative disorder, one can loose cells in the brain and we see them in the community. We are however, not seeing cases because of the different interpretations given to the disease and the fear of stigmatisation.”

He explained that it is a disease that is common with aged population, as their brain is degenerating and unable to handle information.

The expert, who teaches in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences of the University of Ilorin, underscored the need for building capacity to get more data on the disease in Africa, most especially in Nigeria.

Similarly, the expert disclosed that a corresponding research is also taking place in the United States, to study Alzheimer’s disease on Latino and African-American population.

“The information will then be compared with those collated in Africa to see the differences in manifestation. There is need to find out if there is genetic disposition. The data realised will help to find cure for the disease and see ways of personalising medication early in life,” he added.

Prof. Uthman Mubashir, the Community Engagement Coordinator of the programme, explained that the role of community advisory board
is to assist the team in building community trust for participation in the research. According to him, the team is expected to create community awareness, facilitate community outreaches and assist in public relations, among others.

Mubashir, who is a Public Health expert in UITH, emphasised the importance of the programme, adding that data collated from various subjects to the research would be beneficial to humanity.

NAN/Wumi