Stroke, cerebrovascular diseases and vascular cognitive impairment in Africa.

ABSTRACT: With increased numbers of older people a higher burden of neurological disorders worldwide is predicted. Stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases do not necessarily present with different phenotypes in Africa but their incidence is rising in tandem with the demographic change in the population. Age remains the strongest irreversible risk factor for stroke and cognitive impairment. Modifiable factors relating to vascular disease risk, diet, lifestyle, physical activity and psychosocial status play a key role in shaping the current spate of stroke related diseases in Africa. Hypertension is the strongest modifiable risk factor for stroke but is also likely associated with co-inheritance of genetic traits among Africans. Somewhat different from high-income countries, strokes attributed to ce

SUBMITTER: Akinyemi RO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6252289 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature