Dementia Prevalence and <i>Onchocerca volvulus</i> Infection among Rural Elderly Persons in the Ntui Health District, Cameroon: A Population-Based Study
Wepnyu Yembe Njamnshi,
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo,
Kongnyu Gamnsi Njamnshi,
Leonard Ngarka,
Michel K. Mengnjo,
Leonard N. Nfor,
Martine A. F. Tsasse,
Julius N. Taryunyu Njamnshi,
Gladys Maestre,
Jose E. Cavazos,
Sudha Seshadri,
Laurent S. Etoundi Ngoa,
Marie-Thérèse Obama Abena Ondoa,
Bernard Fongang,
Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi Bissek,
Alfred K. Njamnshi
Affiliations
Wepnyu Yembe Njamnshi
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Kongnyu Gamnsi Njamnshi
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Leonard Ngarka
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Michel K. Mengnjo
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Leonard N. Nfor
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Martine A. F. Tsasse
Higher Institute for Scientific and Medical Research, Yaoundé P.O. Box 5797, Cameroon
Julius N. Taryunyu Njamnshi
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Gladys Maestre
Department of Neurosciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA
Jose E. Cavazos
Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Sudha Seshadri
Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Laurent S. Etoundi Ngoa
Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé P.O. Box 1364, Cameroon
Marie-Thérèse Obama Abena Ondoa
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Bernard Fongang
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi Bissek
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Alfred K. Njamnshi
Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé P.O. Box 25625, Cameroon
Recent research suggests that infection with Onchocerca volvulus induces neurocognitive decline. This study sought to compare the cognitive outcomes of elderly persons based on onchocerciasis infection status and report the overall prevalence of dementia in the rural Ntui Health District in Cameroon. A community-based approach was used to recruit 103 participants aged ≥60 years. Dementia screening was done using the Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID) tool with a cut-off value of ≤29.5. O. volvulus infection was determined via microscopic examination of skin snips and serological testing of Ov16 antibodies using rapid diagnostic tests. Overall, the prevalence of dementia was 10.7%. Among the tested individuals, 17.9% (15/84) and 62.1% (41/66) were positive for O. volvulus and Ov16 antibodies, respectively. A multivariable linear regression model of CSID scores found a significant positive association with education level (8.654; 95% CI: 2.0870 to 15.222). However, having a positive skin snip for O. volvulus (−3.399; 95% CI: −6.805 to 0.007) and inhaling tobacco (−5.441; 95% CI: −9.137 to −1.744) tended to lower the CSID scores. Ongoing onchocerciasis transmission in the Ntui Health District may constitute a risk factor for dementia. Strengthening onchocerciasis elimination and adopting healthier lifestyles would contribute to dementia prevention among the elderly residing in endemic communities.
