Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Perspective
  • Published:

Translating lifestyle interventions for optimal brain health in Africa

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 21, pages 449–460 (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Global dementia cases are rising, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with limited health-care access and scarce resources, calling for preventive strategies that align with local capital and cultural practices. The Africa-FINGERS project, an adaptation of the Finnish FINGER trial, pioneers a culturally relevant, multidomain approach to dementia risk reduction for African settings. This Perspective article explores the efficacy of multimodal lifestyle interventions in reducing risks associated with cognitive decline, addressing the unique challenges involved and examining opportunities for implementing such programmes in Africa. Drawing on preliminary insights from ongoing implementation efforts in Africa and lessons from the World Wide FINGERS global network, we describe a standardized, evidence-based precision brain health model that aims to dynamically and equitably optimize protective factors for brain health in Africa. This model is tailored to accommodate the diverse cultural, socioeconomic and logistical contexts of Africa, emphasizing culturally adapted, scalable and resource-sensitive solutions for sustainable implementation. Building on the successful execution of regional lifestyle-based interventions for other non-communicable diseases, we highlight the potential of the Africa-FINGERS programme to improve brain health and mitigate dementia risks across diverse global settings.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Dementia risk factors identified across the participating countries of Africa-FINGERS (2000–2023).
Fig. 2: Overview of the Africa-FINGERS model for dementia risk-reduction trials.
Fig. 3: Adapting the FINGER model for Africa: a comparative overview of core and culturally tailored components in the Africa-FINGERS trial.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. World Health Organization. Dementia https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia (WHO, 2023).

  2. Dua, T. et al. World Health Organization’s global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017–2025. Alzheimers Dement. 13, P1450–P1451 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Nichols, E. et al. Estimation of the global prevalence of dementia in 2019 and forecasted prevalence in 2050: an analysis for the global burden of disease study 2019. Lancet Public Health 7, e105–e125 (2022).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. World Health Organization. Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017–2025 (World Health Organization, 2017).

  5. United Nations. World Population Prospects 2022: Summary of Results (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2022).

  6. Akinyemi, R. O. et al. Dementia in Africa: current evidence, knowledge gaps, and future directions. Alzheimers Dement. 18, 790–809 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Livingston, G. et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet commission. Lancet 396, 413–446 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Livingston, G. et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing commission. Lancet 404, 572–628 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mukadam, N., Sommerlad, A., Huntley, J. & Livingston, G. Population attributable fractions for risk factors for dementia in low-income and middle-income countries: an analysis using cross-sectional survey data. Lancet Glob. Health 7, e596–e603 (2019).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Udeh-Momoh, C. T. et al. Dementia risk reduction in the African context: multi-national implementation of multimodal strategies to promote healthy brain aging in Africa (the Africa-FINGERS project). Alzheimers Dement. 20, 8987–9003 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Kivipelto, M. et al. World-wide FINGERS network: a global approach to risk reduction and prevention of dementia. Alzheimers Dement. 16, 1078–1094 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ngandu, T. et al. A 2 year multidomain intervention of diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring versus control to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people (FINGER): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 385, 2255–2263 (2015).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Agarwal, P. et al. Association of MIND diet with cognitive decline among Black and White older adults. Alzheimers Dement. 20, 8461–8469 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Liu, X. et al. A healthy plant-based diet was associated with slower cognitive decline in African American older adults: a biracial community-based cohort. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 116, 875–886 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Koyama, A. et al. Association between the Mediterranean diet and cognitive decline in a biracial population. J. Gerontol. A 70, 354–359 (2015).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Tangney, C. C. et al. Adherence to a Mediterranean-type dietary pattern and cognitive decline in a community population. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 93, 601–607 (2011).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Barnes, L. L. et al. Trial of the MIND diet for prevention of cognitive decline in older persons. N. Engl. J. Med. 389, 602–611 (2023).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Wharton, W. et al. A pilot randomized clinical trial of adapted tango to improve cognition and psychosocial function in African American women with family history of Alzheimer’s disease (ACT trial). Cereb. Circ. Cogn. Behav. 2, 100018 (2021).

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Fausto, B. A. et al. Cardio-dance exercise to improve cognition and mood in older African Americans: a propensity-matched cohort study. J. Appl. Gerontol. 41, 496–505 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rehfeld, K. A.-O. X. et al. Dance training is superior to repetitive physical exercise in inducing brain plasticity in the elderly. PLoS ONE 13, e0196636 (2018).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Young, J., Angevaren, M., Rusted, J. & Tabet, N. Aerobic exercise to improve cognitive function in older people without known cognitive impairment. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005381.pub4 (2015).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Forbes, D., Forbes, S. C., Blake, C. M., Thiessen, E. J. & Forbes, S. Exercise programs for people with dementia. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006489.pub4 (2015).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Chowdhary, N. et al. Reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO recommendations. Front. Neurol. 12, 765584 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Kivipelto, M., Mangialasche, F. & Solomon, A. Pointing the FINGER at multimodal dementia prevention — authors’ reply. Lancet 386, 1627 (2015).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ravindranath, V. & Sundarakumar, J. S. Changing demography and the challenge of dementia in India. Nat. Rev. Neurol. 17, 747–758 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Madjiguene, M. et al. Promotion of cardiovascular health in Africa: the alliance for medical re-search in Africa (AMedRA) expert panel. JACC Adv. 3, 101376 (2024).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Nansseu, J. R. et al. Prevalence of major cardiovascular disease risk factors among a group of sub-Saharan African young adults: a population-based cross-sectional study in Yaoundé, Cameroon. BMJ Open 9, e029858 (2019).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Silva, I. et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among young adults (18–25 years) in Mozambique. J. Cardiovasc. Dev. Dis. 10, 298 (2023).

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Crivelli, L. LatAm-FINGERS (Latin America). Alzheimers Dement. 16, e046953 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Crivelli, L. et al. Latin American initiative for lifestyle intervention to prevent cognitive decline (LatAm-FINGERS): study design and harmonization. Alzheimers Dement. 19, 4046–4060 (2023).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Glasgow, R. E., Vogt, T. M. & Boles, S. M. Evaluating the public health impact of health promotion interventions: the RE-AIM framework. Am. J. Public Health 89, 1322–1327 (1999).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Holtrop, J. S. et al. Understanding and applying the RE-AIM framework: clarifications and resources. J. Clin. Transl. Sci. 5, e126 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. McFarlane, S. J., Occa, A., Peng, W., Awonuga, O. & Morgan, S. E. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) to enhance participation of racial/ethnic minorities in clinical trials: a 10-year systematic review. Health Commun. 37, 1075–1092 (2022).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Zülke, A. E. et al. Gender-specific design and effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions against cognitive decline — systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J. Prev. Alzheimers Dis. 10, 69–82 (2023).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Baker, L. D. et al. Effects of aerobic exercise on mild cognitive impairment: a controlled trial. Arch. Neurol. 67, 71–79 (2010).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Barha, C. K. et al. Sex difference in aerobic exercise efficacy to improve cognition in older adults with vascular cognitive impairment: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. J. Alzheimers Dis. 60, 1397–1410 (2017).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Sindi, S. et al. Sex differences in dementia and response to a lifestyle intervention: evidence from Nordic population-based studies and a prevention trial. Alzheimers Dement. 17, 1166–1178 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Udeh-Momoh, C. & Watermeyer, T. Female specific risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology and cognitive impairment: call for a precision medicine approach. Ageing Res. Rev. 71, 101459 (2021).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Sultana, Y. & Khondker, H. H. in The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Problems 1–14 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).

  40. Simonsen, S. E. et al. A gender-based approach to developing a healthy lifestyle and healthy weight intervention for diverse Utah women. Eval. Program. Plan. 51, 8–16 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Jack, C. R. Jr et al. Revised criteria for diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s association workgroup. Alzheimers Dement. 20, 5143–5169 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Pascoal, T. A. et al. Insights into the use of biomarkers in clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease. eBioMedicine 108, 105322 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Saadmaan, G. et al. Alzheimer’s disease genetic risk score and neuroimaging in the FINGER lifestyle trial. Alzheimers Dement. 20, 4345–4350 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Stephen, R. et al. Change in CAIDE dementia risk score and neuroimaging biomarkers during a 2-year multidomain lifestyle randomized controlled trial: results of a post-hoc subgroup analysis. J. Gerontol. A 76, 1407–1414 (2021).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Prato, F. S., Pavlosky, W. F., Foster, S. C., Thiessen, J. D. & Beaujot, R. P. Screening for dementia caused by modifiable lifestyle choices using hybrid PET/MRI. J. Alzheimers Dis. Rep. 3, 31–45 (2019).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Anazodo, U. C. et al. A framework for advancing sustainable magnetic resonance imaging access in Africa. NMR Biomed. 36, e4846 (2023).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. McGlinchey, E. et al. Biomarkers of neurodegeneration across the Global South. Lancet Healthy Longev. 5, 100616 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Weber, C. J. et al. The worldwide Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative: ADNI-3 updates and global perspectives. Alzheimers Dement. 7, e12226 (2021).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Anazodo, U. C., Shoemaker, J. K., Suskin, N. & St. Lawrence, K. S. An investigation of changes in regional gray matter volume in cardiovascular disease patients, pre and post cardiovascular rehabilitation. Neuroimage Clin. 3, 388–395 (2013).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Anazodo, U. C. et al. Impaired cerebrovascular function in coronary artery disease patients and recovery following cardiac rehabilitation. Front. Aging Neurosci. 7, 224 (2016).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Poirier, S. E. et al. Probing evidence of cerebral white matter microstructural disruptions in ischemic heart disease before and following cardiac rehabilitation: a diffusion tensor MR imaging study. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 59, 2137–2149 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Mumuni, A. N. et al. Scan with me: a train-the-trainer program to upskill MRI personnel in low- and middle-income countries. J. Am. Coll. Radiol. 21, 1222–1234 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Obungoloch, J. et al. On-site construction of a point-of-care low-field MRI system in Africa. NMR Biomed. 36, e4917 (2023).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Stiles, J. et al. Evaluation of a high-sensitivity organ-targeted PET camera. Sensors 22, 4678 (2022).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Soret, M. et al. Dose reduction in brain [18F]FDG PET/MRI: give it half a chance. Mol. Imaging Biol. 22, 695–702 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Synowiecki, M. A., Perk, L. R. & Nijsen, J. F. W. Production of novel diagnostic radionuclides in small medical cyclotrons. EJNMMI Radiopharm. Chem. 3, 3 (2018).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Masumoto, K. et al. Effectiveness of self-shielding type cyclotrons. Prog. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 4, 223–227 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Raymond, C. et al. SMART-PET: a self-SiMilARiTy-aware generative adversarial framework for reconstructing low-count [18F]-FDG-PET brain imaging. Front. Nucl. Med. 4, 1469490 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  59. Sorby-Adams, A. J. et al. Portable, low-field magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of Alzheimer’s disease. Nat. Commun. 15, 10488 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Khonje, V. et al. Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about dementia in an Urban Xhosa-speaking community in South Africa. Adv. Alzheimers Dis. 04, 21–36 (2015).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. de Jager, C. A. & Pepper, K. Building capacity for dementia screening and intervention in low income, rural communities: a collaborative initiative. Int. J. Afr. Nurs. Sci. 7, 43–49 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  62. Evans-Lacko, S. et al. Don’t forget I’m human — stopping dementia stigma. STRiDE https://stridedementia.turtl.co/story/anti-stigma-toolkit/page/12 (2022).

  63. Catley, D. et al. Evaluation of an adapted version of the diabetes prevention program for low- and middle-income countries: a cluster randomized trial to evaluate “Lifestyle Africa” in South Africa. PLoS Med. 19, e1003964 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Le Goff, D. et al. Screening for cardiovascular risk in the general population: the SPICES implementation survey. Front. Med. 9, 1058090 (2023).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Le Goff, D. A.-O. et al. Innovative population-based strategies for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a 2-year randomised control trial evaluating behavioral change led by community champions versus brief advice. PLoS ONE 19, e0314748 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  66. Roger, S. & Sarah, S. Reimagining Primary Health Care Workforce in Rural and Underserved Settings (World Bank Group, 2020).

  67. World Health Organization. WHO Guideline on Health Workforce Development, Attraction, Recruitment and Retention in Rural and Remote Areas (WHO, 2021).

  68. Zlokovic, B. V. et al. Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID): a report from the 2018 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Workshop. Alzheimers Dement. 16, 1714–1733 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Catley, D. et al. Adapting the diabetes prevention program for low and middle-income countries: protocol for a cluster randomised trial to evaluate ‘Lifestyle Africa’. BMJ Open 9, e031400 (2019).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Frisoni, G. B. et al. Precision prevention of Alzheimer’s and other dementias: anticipating future needs in the control of risk factors and implementation of disease-modifying therapies. Alzheimers Dement. 16, 1457–1468 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Zegarra-Valdivia, J. A. et al. Dementia and mild cognitive impairment identification in illiterate and low-educated people: systematic review about the use of brief cognitive screening tools. Behav. Sci. 15, 207 (2025).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Humphreys, G. W. et al. Cognitive function in low-income and low-literacy settings: validation of the tablet-based Oxford cognitive screen in the health and aging in Africa: a longitudinal study of an INDEPTH community in South Africa (HAALSI). J. Gerontol. B 72, 38–50 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Fowler, N. R., Perkins, A. J., Gao, S., Sachs, G. A. & Boustani, M. A. Risks and benefits of screening for dementia in primary care: the Indiana University cognitive health outcomes investigation of the comparative effectiveness of dementia screening (IU CHOICE) trial. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 68, 535–543 (2020).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Milne, R. et al. Societal and equity challenges for brain health services. A user manual for brain health services — part 6 of 6. Alzheimers Res. Ther. 13, 173 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  75. Walsh, S. et al. A whole-population approach is required for dementia risk reduction. Lancet Healthy Longev. 3, e6–e8 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Walsh, S. & Brayne, C. Comment on “Dementia prevention: the potential long-term cost-effectiveness of the FINGER prevention program”. Alzheimers Dement. 19, 4758–4759 (2023).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Saunders, S. et al. The European prevention of Alzheimer’s dementia programme: an innovative medicines initiative-funded partnership to facilitate secondary prevention of Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Front. Neurol. 13, 1051543 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  78. Balabanova, D. et al. Good health at low cost 25 years on: lessons for the future of health systems strengthening. Lancet 381, 2118–2133 (2013).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Semrau, M. et al. Strengthening mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries: the Emerald programme. BMC Med. 13, 79 (2015).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  80. Walsh, S. et al. Population-level interventions for the primary prevention of dementia: a complex evidence review. eClinicalMedicine 70, 102538 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  81. Kirsten, B. et al. Africa brain health dashboard. Neuroscience Institute https://neuroscience.uct.ac.za/example-africa-brain-health-dashboard# (2024).

  82. Trani, J.-F., Moodley, J., Maw, M. T. T. & Babulal, G. M. Association of multidimensional poverty with dementia in adults aged 50 years or older in South Africa. JAMA Netw. Open. 5, e224160–e224160 (2022).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  83. Maëlenn, G. et al. Alzheimer’s Disease International. Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa Challenges and Opportunities (ADI, 2017).

  84. Ojagbemi, A., Okekunle, A. P. & Babatunde, O. Dominant and modifiable risk factors for dementia in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Neurol. 12, 627761 (2021).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  85. El Tallawy, H. N. A. et al. Prevalence of Alzheimer dementia in Upper Egypt (desert areas). Egypt. J. Neurol. Psychiatry Neurosurg. 55, 29 (2019).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  86. Kivipelto, M. & Hellenius, M.-L. Hjärnhälsa — På Dina Fem Fingrar (Toucan, 2021).

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Africa-FINGERS Co-Investigative team and Executive Steering Committee for methodological and technical insights towards developing the Africa-FINGERS work programme. The authors acknowledge Africa-FINGERS project partners: WW-FINGERS Global Scientific Coordinating Center, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC), Alzheimer’s Disease International, African Dementia Consortium, Global Brain Health Institute, Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative (ADDI), AlzPath, Neurovision and Oasis Diagnostics for provision of resources and support to execute the study. The authors appreciate support from the WW-FINGERS Global Scientific Coordinating Center, especially A. Solomon, F. Mangialasche, D. Perera, J. Lehtishalo and M. Barbera; as well as the Africa-FINGERS study coordinating centre, The Brain and Mind Institute at Aga Khan University Kenya, especially Founding Director Z. Merali and Scientific Advisor O. Nesic, as well as Operational Leads R. Maina and W. Karanja for technical and administrative support, and Consultants B. Momoh and O. Adewale. The Africa-FINGERS programme is generously supported by funding from the UKRI MRC/ MR/Y019822/122. The funders have had no role in the design, implementation, analysis or write up of this article. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the UKRI MRC. Although not directly funding this work, C.T.U.-M. additionally receives funding support from The Alzheimer’s Association (SAGA23-1141999), Wellcome Leap and Temasek Trust Dynamic Resilience Award, Office for Veterans’ Affairs UK Defense and Security Accelerator Fund (G2-SCH-2022-11-12245), Global Brain Health Institute (UFRA-424|CA-0241758), Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Global Cohorts Fund, RoseTrees Foundation (Seedcorn2021\100220) and National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Aging (RO1-AG074562). FINGERS Brain Health Institute Global Scientific Coordinating Center has received support by ADDI, Gates Ventures and DAC. Other funding: NordForsk NJ-FINGERS grant; Center for Innovative Medicine at Region Stockholm, Sweden; Stiftelsen Stockholms sjukhem; Swedish research council for health, working life and welfare (FORTE).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston–Salem, NC, USA

    Chinedu T. Udeh-Momoh

  2. Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya

    Chinedu T. Udeh-Momoh, Catherine Ajalo & Edna N. Bosire

  3. Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Chinedu T. Udeh-Momoh & Miia Kivipelto

  4. FINGERS Brain Health Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Chinedu T. Udeh-Momoh, Celeste A. de Jager Loots & Miia Kivipelto

  5. Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Celeste A. de Jager Loots & Miia Kivipelto

  6. Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Celeste A. de Jager Loots & Udunna C. Anazodo

  7. Edinburgh Dementia Prevention, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Tamlyn J. Watermeyer

  8. Medical Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Crestview Radiology Ltd, Lagos, Nigeria

    Udunna C. Anazodo

  9. Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Udunna C. Anazodo

  10. Association Alzheimer and Dementia Mauritius, Belle Rose, Mauritius

    Ameenah Sorefan

  11. Association Alzheimer&Dementia, Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius

    Ameenah Sorefan

  12. African Institute of Mental and Brain Health, Nairobi, Kenya

    Christine Musyimi

  13. World Health Organization, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

    Chido Rwafa

  14. University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia

    Chido Rwafa

  15. Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

    Njideka Okubadejo

Authors
  1. Chinedu T. Udeh-Momoh
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Celeste A. de Jager Loots
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tamlyn J. Watermeyer
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Udunna C. Anazodo
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Catherine Ajalo
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Edna N. Bosire
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ameenah Sorefan
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Christine Musyimi
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Chido Rwafa
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Njideka Okubadejo
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Miia Kivipelto
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The authors contributed equally to all aspects of the article, and all authors reviewed and edited the manuscript before submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chinedu T. Udeh-Momoh.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Peer review

Peer review information

Nature Reviews Neurology thanks Carol Brayne who co-reviewed with Sebastian Walsh, Adesola Ogunniyi and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Udeh-Momoh, C.T., de Jager Loots, C.A., Watermeyer, T.J. et al. Translating lifestyle interventions for optimal brain health in Africa. Nat Rev Neurol 21, 449–460 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-025-01104-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-025-01104-8

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research