Dementia in Ghana: Study finds 23.4% of adults over 40 at risk as experts call for national care policy
Dr. Precious Adadidudu, Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing at the University of Huddersfield and Principal Investigator, led a cross-sectional study between 2023 and 2025 in parts of Ghana's Ashanti Region. The study, involving more than 800 participants, found that 23.4% of adults aged 40 and above are at risk of developing dementia. Dr. Adadidudu stated, "Ghana currently does not have clear data on how many people are living with dementia, but this study gives us important insight into the scale of the problem."
The research, part of a UK-Ghana collaboration on non-communicable diseases, highlights the burden on families caring for persons with dementia. Caregivers are forced to abandon jobs, sacrifice income, and deal with emotional and financial stress. Dr. Adadidudu noted that some caregivers experience severe exhaustion, stating, "Some are burnt out, some are stressed, and many have had to sacrifice their livelihoods." Dementia remains poorly understood in Ghana due to stigma, misinformation, and spiritual interpretations that delay diagnosis and treatment.
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A new study in Ghana's Ashanti Region reveals a significant portion of adults over 40 are at risk of dementia, highlighting a growing public health
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