Dementia is a rapidly growing healthcare issue in Africa, a region challenged by limited resources and lack of awareness. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa introduces and explains the WHO regional policy framework for mental health, and neurological and substance use conditions in their efforts to tackle dementia in the region.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
WHO. Global Status Report on the Public Health Response to Dementia (WHO, 2021).
World Health Assembly, 69. Multisectoral Action for a Life Course Approach to Healthy Ageing: Draft Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Ageing and Health: Report by the Secretariat (WHO, 2016).
Alemayehu, Z. G. et al. J. Med. Surgery Public Health 7, 100204 (2025).
Regional Committee for Africa. Progress Report on the Framework for Implementing the Priority Actions of the Global Plan of Action of the Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030 in the African Region (WHO, 2024).
WHO. Mental Health Atlas 2020 (WHO, 2021).
WHO. Atlas: Country Resources for Neurological Disorders, 2nd edn (WHO, 2017).
Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity. National Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) Strategic and Action Plan 2022 – 2026 (WHO & Republic of Mauritius, 2023).
Regional Committee for Africa, 72. Framework to Strengthen the Implementation of the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 in the WHO African Region: Report of the Secretariat (WHO, 2022).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Consortia
Contributions
C.R.M. contributed to conception, design, structure, drafting, editing and revising the article. K.M.N., B.L.F. and B.I. contributed to editing and revising the article.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WHO Regional Office for Africa. Time to act now on the rise of dementia in Africa. Nat Aging 5, 1924–1925 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-00978-z
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-00978-z
