Highlights From Day One: Ibadan Hub's AAIC Neuroscience Next Event

Today, Monday, 24th February, the Ibadan Hub held the Alzheimer's Association International Conference Neuroscience Next Event. This is a two-day conference aimed at supporting and showcasing the work of early-career researchers and clinicians. In other words, it seeks to prime medical students and budding researchers for opportunities in neurodegenerative disease research. The conference kicked off only ten minutes late, a remarkable exception to standard Nigerian time practices. This dedication to remaining within time blocks continued throughout the rest of the event. The event which took place at Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theater, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, was well-attended.

The chairman of the event was Professor Olusegun Bayero, a prominent psychiatrist and researcher with an emphasis on psychogeriatric disease burdens and care. He is a member of the International Psychogeriatric Association and a pioneer researcher in dementia and Alzheimer's in Africa. In his opening speech, he talked about the history of neurodegenerative diseases, Alois Alzheimer's discovery of amyloid deposits, and how much farther we still have to go. He ended by encouraging everyone to keep pushing forward with a goal in mind: to leave an impact wherever we go. 

The Neuroscience Next Early Career Research lead, Tobi Olajide, also gave an opening speech. He welcomed everyone to an exciting research landscape. He then reminded the audience that students and early-career researchers are just as important in the neurological research field as they would be the ones to ask bold and unconventional questions, fueling innovations and research directions.

After this, there were more activities, including a plenary session on advances in genetics and dementia by Professor Rufus Akinyemi, a professor of Neurology. There was also a presentation by Dr. Tejiri Napoleon on advancements in dementia treatment. His presentation focused on the hope of a future where patients and their relatives could be told that there was hope, or even a cure, after a diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease. He discussed treatments for Alzheimer's with mild to moderate side effects, mentioning monoclonal antibody medications that had been endorsed, as well as non-pharmacological interventions such as focused ultrasound and Repetitive Transcranial Electromagnetic Stimulation.

The president of the College Research and Innovation Hub, Oluwatimileyin Oladapo, gave a presentation on current evidence for dementia in Africa. In his presentation, he spoke about the knowledge gaps and future directions in dementia research.

A panel session was also held, featuring panelists who are prominent researchers responsible for some of the current research referenced in dementia studies, who also doubled as plenary session speakers later in the event. The panelists included Professor Akin Ojagbemi, Dr. Maelenn Guechert, and Dr. Temitayo Ayantayo. Some of the things spoken about included the differences between incident and prevalent dementia. A memorable moment was a question about how low levels of education are a risk factor for dementia, its pathophysiology, and its historical accuracy. The response, in simple terms, was that increased use of memory and cognitive skills due to learning could lead to increased synapse formation, which might have a protective effect against neurodegenerative amyloid deposition. Professor Ojagbemi emphasized that the learning being discussed was not necessarily Western education, meaning precolonial Nigerians would not have necessarily had high levels of dementia.

Dr. Lawrence Adebusoye gave a plenary session on protective lifestyle factors against dementia in Africa. His presentation was particularly engaging as he tried to "Gen-Z" it up, and make it as understandable as possible. He spoke on the risk factors for dementia, especially the modifiable ones such as smoking, education, and alcohol consumption. 

A workshop session by Professor Ojagbemi focused on early to intermediate-level grantsmanship. He emphasized key areas to focus on for young, aspiring researchers, including self-development, training, achievements, and good networking. His workshop emphasized the "Person, Place, Project, and Preparation" framework as things to focus on. He also warned against over-ambition in seeking grant opportunities.

Dr. Temitayo Ayantayo spoke about youth advocacy in neuroscience. As a young and successful researcher, he was well-placed to handle the session. He spoke about networking and mentorship, as well as getting familiar with the research process in one's chosen field.  He highlighted challenges faced by student researchers, such as lack of skill, time constraints, limited mentorship, and restricted access to collaborations. 

The main plenary session, which was broadcast virtually with other neuroscience hubs, was led by Dr. Maelenn Guechert, a French epidemiologist known for groundbreaking research on dementia in French-speaking African countries. Her session, titled "The Future of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Research: Promoting Healthy Aging Strategies for Neurodegenerative Disease Prevention in Africa," covered the global and individual costs of dementia. She also spoke about prevention strategies including dietary factors and exercise. When asked about the possibility of early-life dementia prevention as opposed to mid-to-late life interventions, she stated that prevention would likely rely on mass education, as direct interventions would not be feasible for many.

The event ended with a few lightning presentations. Dr. Rademene Oria, Dr. Napoleon Tejiri, and Dr. Hauwa Umar each presented for five minutes, after which the first day of the event was closed in a timely fashion. The event was both educative and exciting. With proper time management and two meal breaks, it came as close to perfect as anything can get. 

Salami Wisdom 

Olajide Olamide