The prevalence and awareness of Alzheimer's disease in the Libyan community: A survey study
Keywords:
Alzheimer's , Prevalence, Dementia, Neurodegeneration, AgingAbstract
Alzheimer's disease is no longer confined to the elderly, as it has been observed to affect younger individuals, albeit at lower rates, across all countries worldwide. This survey study aimed to determine the prevalence and awareness of Alzheimer's disease in some Libyan cities. The results from the study areas (East, West, South) indicated that the disease is more prevalent in women (62.9%) than men (37.1%), with the majority of patients aged between 71-80 years (35%). The study also found that most patients had no formal education (61.5%), and the majority had a moderate health status. The most common dietary pattern among patients was home-cooked meals (53.1%), which may contribute to the risk of developing the disease. The study revealed that 62.9% of patients experienced symptoms before diagnosis, with forgetfulness, suspicion, and lack of concentration being the most prominent symptoms. Furthermore, 42.7% of Alzheimer's patients did not have other chronic diseases. The study identified genetic factors, oxidative stress, strokes (especially cerebral), psychological and medical conditions, among others, as common risk factors for developing Alzheimer's. The results also showed that 43.4% of patients received treatment for Alzheimer's. The study concludes that Alzheimer's disease affects women more than men, with no significant difference in prevalence across cities, possibly due to similarities in lifestyle, diet, and environment. The disease has multiple etiological factors, and no single cause can be attributed to its development. This study contributes to understanding the prevalence and awareness of Alzheimer's disease in Libya, highlighting the need for further extensive studies to gain a deeper understanding of the disease.
References
- Abyad, A.(2025). Alzheimer’s Disease: Global Insights From Cause To Care. World Family Medicine, 23.5: 69-76.
- Adam, S., Bonsang, E., Grotz, C., and Perelman, S.( 2013) Occupational Activity And Cognitive Reserve: Implications In Terms Of Prevention Of Cognitive Aging And Alzheimer's Disease. Clin Interv Aging.;8:377–90.
- Akinyemi, R. O., Yaria, J., Ojagbemi, A., Guerchet, M., Okubadejo, N., Njamnshi, A. K., ... and African Dementia Consortium (AfDC). (2022). Dementia in Africa: current evidence, knowledge gaps, and future directions. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 18(4), 790-809.
- Alsaeh, F., Abusharya, M., Alsaeh, E., Baroud, N., and Alsharshary, A. (2025). The Harmful Effects of Aspartame as a Food Additive on Some Body Organs in Laboratory Animals: A Review Study. (NAJSP), 36-43. https://doi.org/10.65414/najsp.v3i4.656
- Amini, M., Zayeri, F., and Moghaddam, S. S. (2019). Years lived with disability due to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Asian and north African countries: a trend analysis. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 9(1), 29-35.
- Amiri, F., Safiri, S., Shamekh, A., and Ebrahimi, A.(2025). Prevalence, deaths and disability-adjusted life years due to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in Middle East and North Africa, 1990–2021. Scientific Reports.
- Arnst, N., Redolfi, N., Lia, A., Bedetta, M., Greotti, E., and Pizzo, P.(2022). Mitochondrial Ca2+ Signaling And Bioenergetics In Alzheimer’s Disease. Biomedicines 2022; 10(12): 3025.
- Braak, H., Thal, D.R., Ghebremedhin, E., and Del Tredici, K.(2011). Stages Of The Pathologic Process In Alzheimer Disease: Age Categories From 1 To 100 Years. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol; 70 (11): 960-9.
- Breijyeh, Z., and Karaman, R.C.(2020). Omprehensive Review On Alzheimer's Disease: Causes And Treatment. Molecules. Dec 8;25(24):5789. Doi: 10.3390/Molecules25245789. PMID: 33302541; PMCID: PMC7764106. Dependence Of The Antioxidant And Prooxidant Activity Of Trolox In Hela Cells: Doi: 10.3390/Antiox9111058
- Ciurea, V.A., Covache-Busuioc, R.A., Mohan, A.G., Costin, H.P., and Voicu, V.(2023). Alzheimer's disease: 120 years of research and progress. J Med Life. (2):173-177. doi: 10.25122/jml-2022-0111. PMID: 36937482; PMCID: PMC10015576.
- Crous-Bou, M., Minguillón, C., Gramunt, N., and Molinuevo, J.L.(2017). Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: From Risk Factors To Early Intervention. Alzheimers Res Ther. 12;9(1):71. Doi: 10.1186/S13195-017-0297-Z.
- Cummings, J. L., and Cole, G. (2002). Alzheimer disease. Jama, 287(18), 2335-2338.
- Derouesné, C., Thibault, S., Lozeron, P., Baudouin-Madec, V., Piquard, A., & Lacomblez, L. (2002). Perturbations des activités quotidiennes au cours de la maladie d'Alzheimer. Etude chez 172 patients à l'aide d'un questionnaire rempli par le conjoint. Revue Neurologique, 158(6-7), 684-700.
- Dumitrescu, L., Mayeda, E.R., and Sharman, K.(2019). Sex Differences In The Genetic Architecture Of Alzeimer S Disease Genetic Medicine Reprts,2019-Springer.
- Gale, S.A., Acar, D., and Daffner, K.R.(2018). Dementia. Am J Med;131(10):1161–9. Https://Doi.Org/10.1016/J.Amjmed.2018.01.022 PMID: 29425707
- Guerreiro, R., and Bras, J.(2015). The Age Factor In Alzheimer’s Disease. Genome Med.;7:106. Doi: 10.1186/S13073-015-0232-5
- Hampel, H., Mesulam, M.M., Cuello, A.C., Farlow, M.R., Giacobini, E., Grossberg, G.T., Khachaturian, A.S., Vergallo, A., Cavedo, E., Snyder, P.J., and Khachaturian, Z.S. (2018). The Cholinergic System In The Pathophysiology And Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease. Brain. 01;141(7):1917-1933
- Iliyasu, M.O., Musa, S.A., Oladele, S.B., and Iliya, A.I.(2023). Amyloid-Beta Aggregation Implicates Multiple Pathways In Alzheimer's Disease: Understanding The Mechanisms. Front Neurosci; 17: 1081938.
- Jack, C.R.Jr, Knopman, D.S., Jagust, W.J., Shaw, L.M., Aisen, P.S., Weiner, M.W., Petersen, R.C., and Trojanowski, J.Q.(2010). Hypothetical Model Of Dynamic Biomarkers Of The Alzheimer's Pathological Cascade. Lancet Neurology;9(1):119–28.
- Jurcău, M.C., Andronie-Cioara, F.L., Jurcău, A., Marcu, F., Ţiț, D.M., Pașcalău, N., and Nistor-Cseppentö, D.C.(2022). The Link between Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation in the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease: Therapeutic Implications and Future Perspectives. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Oct 31;11(11):2167. doi: 10.3390/antiox11112167. PMID: 36358538; PMCID: PMC9686795.
- Khanahmadi M., Farhud D.D., and Malmir M.(2015). Genetic Of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Narrative Review Article. Iran. J. Public Health. 44:892–901. [PMC Free Article] [Pubmed] [Google Scholar][Ref List]
- Kroner, Z. (2009). The Relationship Between Alzheimer's Disease And Diabetes: Type 3 Diabetes?. Alternative Medicine Review, 14(4), 373.
- Lanctôt, K.L., Hviid Hahn-Pedersen, J., Eichinger, C.S., Freeman, C., Clark, A., Tarazona, L.R.S, and Cummings, J.(2024). Burden of Illness in People with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review of Epidemiology, Comorbidities and Mortality. J Prev Alzheimers Dis;11(1):97-107. doi: 10.14283/jpad.2023.61. PMID: 38230722; PMCID: PMC10225771.
- Lane, C.A., Hardy, J., and Schott, J.M.(2018). Alzheimer's Disease. Eur J Neurol; 25(1):59-70. Doi: 10.1111/Ene.13439.
- Li, X., Feng, X., Sun, X., Hou, N., Han, F., and Liu, Y.(2022). Global, Regional, And National Burden Of Alzheimer's Disease And Other Dementias, 1990-2019. Front Aging Neurosci; 14:937486.
- Mougias, M., Beratis, I.N., Moustaka, K., Alexopoulos, P., and Assimakopoulos, K.(2023). The Differential Role Of Executive Apathy In Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment And Healthycognitive Ageing. Geriatrics; 8: 38.
- Ourry, V., Binette, A.P., St-Onge, F., Strikwerda-Brown, C., Chagnot, A., Poirier, J., Breitner, J., Arenaza-Urquijo, E.M., Rabin, J.S., Buckley, R., Gonneaud, J., Marchant, N.L., and Villeneuve, S.(2024). How Do Modifiable Risk Factors Affect Alzheimer's Disease Pathology or Mitigate Its Effect on Clinical Symptom Expression? Biol Psychiatry. 1;95(11):1006-1019. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.09.003. Epub 2023 Sep 7. PMID: 37689129.
- Qiu, C., Kivipelto, M., and Von Strauss, E.(2009). Epidemiology Of Alzheimer's Disease: Occurrence, Determinants, And Strategies Toward Intervention. Dialogues Clin Neurosci; 11(2):111-28.
- Sedighi, M., Shahabi, M. H., Amanollahi, A., Alam, K., Shemehsavar, S., Shirzadi, Z., ... and Sohrabi, H. R. (2026). Prevalence of dementia in selected Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 22(1), e71109.
- Swerdlow, R.H.(2018). Mitochondria And Mitochondrial Cascades In Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis; 62(3): 1403-16.
- Tahir, M., kang, M.H., Park, T.J., Ali, J., Choe, K., Park, J.S., And Kim, M.O.(2024). Multifaceted Neuroprotective Approach Of Trolox In Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model: Targeting Aβ Pathology, Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, And Synapticdysfunction. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18: 1453038.
- Touchon, J. (2009, 1-4 Avril). Intérêt de traitement de la maladie d'Alzheimer au stade léger. La prise en charge de la maladie d'Alzheimer au stade léger, un enjeu de santé publique. Journée de neurologie de langue Française. Lille, France.
- World-Alzeimer-Report,(2023). Published by Alzheimer's Disease International.
- Zhang, N., Chai, S., and Wang, J.(2025). Assessing and projecting the global impacts of Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in public health. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public.health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1453489/full.
- Zhu, W., Li, X., Li, X., Wang, H., Li, M., Gao, Z., and Yu, Y.(2021). The Protective Impact Of Education On Brain Structure And Function In Alzheimer’s Disease. BMC Neurology, 21(1), 423.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sahel Almarifah Journal for Humanities and Applied Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
