Jean Ikanga, Caterina Obenauf, Saranya Sundaram Patel, Megan Schwinne, Guy Gikelekele, Emmanuel Epenge, Japhet Magolu Potshi, Topina Tomadia, Julie Kazadi, Immaculee Kavugho, Giovanni Luamba Santolini, Aristote Nkosi, Francine Manyonga Sabowa, Brenda Matungu Musewu, Elipsis Mawisa, Joseph Phuati Tsangu, Francis Muena Kondo Beya, Samuel Mampunza, Lelo Mananga, Justine Bukabau, Charlotte E Teunissen, Thomas Karikari, Alden L Gross, Julio C Rojas, Alvaro Alonso
To date, 506 individuals have enrolled (mean age 73.4; 59.3% women), including 70 CU, 136 MCI, 120 AD, and 180 with OD. Dementia cases show higher rates of hypertension, comorbidities, neuropsychiatric symptoms, smoking, and alcohol use, along with lower body weight, education, and resilience, and greater exposure to pollution, conflict, trauma, and poverty.
INTRODUCTION: The Étude du Vieillissement Cognitif et de Démence en République Démocratique du Congo (EVCD-RDC) launched in 2024 to investigate socioenvironmental and biological determinants of dementia in Kinshasa.
METHODS: The study recruited 1000 adults aged ≥65 years across four diagnostic groups - cognitively unimpaired (CU), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and other dementias (OD) - through community and clinical settings. Participants complete neuropsychological, neurological, social, and environmental assessments with biennial follow-up.
RESULTS: To date, 506 individuals have enrolled (mean age 73.4; 59.3% women), including 70 CU, 136 MCI, 120 AD, and 180 with OD. Dementia cases show higher rates of hypertension, comorbidities, neuropsychiatric symptoms, smoking, and alcohol use, along with lower body weight, education, and resilience, and greater exposure to pollution, conflict, trauma, and poverty.
DISCUSSION: EVCD-RDC is the first large-scale dementia cohort in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa and will provide critical longitudinal insights into modifiable risks, infectious diseases, and multi-omics in the region.