TheDigger Intelligence Unit
A major study found that just five weeks of targeted brain training for people aged 65 and older may delay dementia by up to 20 years.
People who finished the program and took booster sessions in later years had a 25% lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, this was the only intervention in the study that showed a long-term protective effect.
Consequences for Nigeria
Nigeria’s population is getting older, and experts expect dementia cases to increase quickly in the next few years. With few psychiatric services and significant stigma around mental illness, families often handle all the care themselves.
The study shows that affordable, non-drug options can help delay dementia and reduce the strain on families and the health system.
Local neurologists suggest that policymakers and health officials should develop and adequately fund community-based brain-training programs for older adults.
This includes forming partnerships among medical providers, local governments, and non-profit groups to provide regular, accessible training sessions and community education about brain health.
Leaders should also ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation to measure program success.
Awareness Low, No Focus on Prevention in Nigeria
Around the world, dementia is a top cause of disability in older adults, and Alzheimer’s makes up as much as 80% of these cases.
In Nigeria, awareness remains low, and prevention is rarely a focus. Experts say adding brain-training exercises to community centres, churches, and NGOs could give older adults access to these tools, especially in cities where computer-based programs are available.
The study underscores the importance of prevention. To act on these findings, Nigerian policymakers, health workers, and community leaders should develop a national framework for delivering large-scale brain training.
This can involve integrating brain training into public health initiatives, allocating dedicated funding, training community facilitators, and ensuring outreach to both urban and rural areas.
By systematically implementing brain training programs, Nigeria can help older people stay independent longer, reduce healthcare costs, and ease family stress.
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