WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:04.050 The the best time to work in Alzheimer's research, in my opinion, 00:00:04.050 --> 00:00:06.510 is now, and I'm so grateful. 00:00:06.840 --> 00:00:11.040 I mean, there's been incredible advances in the last decade. 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:16.650 Um, in terms of more accessible biomarkers for Alzheimer's. 00:00:16.650 --> 00:00:21.540 The pathology occurs, you know, as early as, you know, 15 years before 00:00:21.540 --> 00:00:27.660 the onset of symptoms, and we now have biomarkers that are able to detect. 00:00:28.200 --> 00:00:31.979 These brain abnormalities using a simple blood test. 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:36.330 Advances in the field like this offer the opportunity to prevent 00:00:36.390 --> 00:00:40.650 Alzheimer's progression, but there are concerns that not everyone is 00:00:40.650 --> 00:00:44.430 getting access to all the developments that are occurring in the field. 00:00:45.150 --> 00:00:48.795 There is some low middle income settings that we're missing, that 00:00:48.795 --> 00:00:53.114 we're missing out on this opportunity, um, for preventing cognitive. 00:01:03.435 --> 00:01:08.715 The World Health Organization estimates that over 60% of those with dementia 00:01:08.925 --> 00:01:15.225 live in low and middle income countries, and this will only increase population 00:01:15.225 --> 00:01:20.505 aging is triggering this rise in, um, instant dementia, but very little 00:01:20.505 --> 00:01:22.060 is being done in these regions. 00:01:22.845 --> 00:01:27.615 To fill this gap, Chi is starting a study called Africa Fingers. 00:01:28.185 --> 00:01:32.745 It's based on a previous large randomized trial known as the finger study. 00:01:33.555 --> 00:01:37.935 That study showed that targeting specific factors like activity levels, 00:01:37.965 --> 00:01:40.095 diet, and cardiovascular health. 00:01:40.365 --> 00:01:44.055 By encouraging people to take part in exercise and other activities 00:01:44.295 --> 00:01:46.395 can actually improve cognition. 00:01:47.355 --> 00:01:51.285 In Africa, fingers Chi wants to find the best interventions for 00:01:51.285 --> 00:01:56.355 the region here to understand the impact of these interventions. 00:01:56.535 --> 00:02:01.755 Biomarkers, alongside cognitive tests will be used to detect and monitor 00:02:01.845 --> 00:02:04.395 any potential signs of Alzheimer's. 00:02:05.265 --> 00:02:10.215 The key objectives, I guess, are to co-create an intervention protocol. 00:02:12.085 --> 00:02:16.680 Of potential for being sustainable and, um, for better 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:19.890 a, um, for the participants. 00:02:20.070 --> 00:02:22.560 And of course, we test the effectiveness. 00:02:22.950 --> 00:02:26.190 Of this multimodal, um, intervention. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:29.850 You know, adapting the finger model to the African context, but also 00:02:29.850 --> 00:02:34.140 addressing critical factors that we're identifying as being important for 00:02:34.140 --> 00:02:38.340 the region to make sure people really keep up with these interventions. 00:02:38.510 --> 00:02:42.350 She believes it's really important to engage with the community in 00:02:42.350 --> 00:02:46.519 the study design, to come up with activities that really work in 00:02:46.519 --> 00:02:50.660 these specific cultural settings, Tina, to ensure better adherence. 00:02:50.660 --> 00:02:53.090 We're doing traditional movement exercises. 00:02:53.359 --> 00:02:55.490 We're incorporating a lot of traditional music. 00:02:55.930 --> 00:03:00.820 But also ensuring that we're developing movement strategies that are gear to 00:03:00.820 --> 00:03:05.500 some of the WHO recommendations, for instance, for physical activity, to 00:03:05.500 --> 00:03:09.850 really make interventions that will work to tackle Alzheimer's, that also 00:03:09.850 --> 00:03:14.050 are specific challenges that need to be considered in the parts of Africa 00:03:14.110 --> 00:03:15.970 that Chi and the team are working in. 00:03:16.600 --> 00:03:21.550 Africa fingers is being conducted across four sites in two countries. 00:03:22.860 --> 00:03:24.840 Of which are rural to which are urban. 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:28.980 And so you can imagine in rural areas, there'll be a lot of challenges 00:03:28.980 --> 00:03:32.010 with regards to infrastructure to actually do research. 00:03:32.310 --> 00:03:35.970 So even things as simple as blood sample collection, right? 00:03:36.780 --> 00:03:42.240 In terms of transportation to attend the research sites, we're working with people 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:45.150 who live sometimes less than a a day. 00:03:45.750 --> 00:03:47.520 Really, really poor communities. 00:03:48.450 --> 00:03:49.079 And so. 00:03:56.310 --> 00:03:57.690 We samples. 00:04:05.250 --> 00:04:06.840 Blocked sample collection. 00:04:07.350 --> 00:04:11.580 Currently, she and her collaborators are still designing the intervention 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:16.560 protocol with the local communities, but she hopes that this and other 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:21.510 studies like it will pave the way towards equity in Alzheimer's treatment. 00:04:21.990 --> 00:04:30.000 I think that everybody deserves to age well and say, for me, equity refers to 00:04:30.570 --> 00:04:33.515 providing tools and developing strategies. 00:04:34.035 --> 00:04:39.045 Where people can have successful and sustainable brain aging. 00:04:39.495 --> 00:04:46.605 By ensuring that we have biomarkers that are available and accessible to the 00:04:46.605 --> 00:04:53.055 majority of global populations, I think that we can start to really democratize 00:04:53.055 --> 00:04:56.685 access to these, to, to a diagnosis. 00:04:57.405 --> 00:05:02.535 And in that way, um, of course allowing the potential for prevention. 00:05:02.955 --> 00:05:07.035 It's such a great time to be in Alzheimer's research because of the 00:05:07.215 --> 00:05:11.865 hope it finally gives to patients who, you know, um, you know, 00:05:11.865 --> 00:05:17.565 previously had very limited, um, hope or things to look forward to.