As populations around the world grow older, particularly in regions like Africa, we're seeing an increase in age-related brain diseases. This shift highlights the growing importance of understanding brain health as we age and improving our tools for research and patient care, especially enhancing early detection.
Currently, while some efforts have been made to adapt brain health screening tools for different cultures, many of these adaptations fall short. Often, tools are simply translated into the local language without checking if they are still effective given the local culture, education levels, and demographic details. Sometimes, the data used to set norms for these tools are gathered from readily available but not necessarily representative groups.
To better support brain health research and care in Kenya, we need comprehensive and reliable data from healthy adults. This data will help create the first standard reference group for assessing brain health in Nairobi. Such a reference is crucial for accurately diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders early and can enhance the capability of local health systems to develop better care. This effort will allow for better coordination of health data across different countries, promoting global brain health equity and improving care for aging populations.
