Africa is positioning itself at the forefront of artificial intelligence–driven health innovation with the launch of a new initiative focused on brain health. The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) has joined forces with the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation) to explore how AI, data, and digital technologies can transform dementia prevention, diagnosis, and care across the continent.
The collaboration, announced ahead of the G20 Brain Health convening in November, will convene a series of policy roundtables under the banner Data.Digital.AI for Brain Health Across Africa. The discussions aim to identify opportunities and risks for deploying AI in resource-limited health systems while ensuring equitable access and ethical governance.
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are projected to rise sharply in Africa, driven by population growth and increasing life expectancy. Yet diagnostic capacity, trained specialists, and long-term care systems remain scarce in many countries. Advocates say that without investment in new approaches, the continent could face a silent crisis in the coming decades.
“AI can help change this trajectory,” said Dr. Vaibhav Narayan, executive vice president of DAC. “From early detection to caregiver support, AI tools can extend expert care to remote communities and reduce the burden on fragile health systems.”
The SFA Foundation, which has conducted research across 43 African countries on the use of AI in genomics, diagnostics, and epidemic response, will anchor the initiative in local perspectives. It has launched a stakeholder survey to capture African views on both opportunities and governance needs, with findings set to guide the policy roundtables.
“AI presents us with a significant opportunity, but it must be governed in ways that reflect African realities,” said Uzma Alam, policy engagement lead at the SFA Foundation. “If we get it right, AI can empower vulnerable populations and strengthen trust in our health systems. If we get it wrong, it risks widening inequality.”
The effort is closely aligned with the South African-led G20 Health Working Group, which has elevated equity and digital innovation as global health priorities. DAC and the SFA Foundation will co-convene an action-oriented session at the G20 Brain Health convening in November, where recommendations from the Africa-focused roundtables will be presented.
Dr. Adewale Aderemi of Nigeria’s National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies emphasized the broader significance: “AI could be a game-changer for Africa, not just in health but across sectors. In mental health particularly, it could help bridge deep service gaps while boosting productivity and social resilience. The challenge is ensuring political will to make this a policy priority.”
The partnership comes amid growing momentum for digital health innovation in Africa. From AI-powered tuberculosis screening tools in Kenya to mobile diagnostics in South Africa, governments and research institutions are increasingly testing new models. But experts caution that governance frameworks, data protection, and equitable access must advance in tandem with technological adoption.
Article by Jed Mwangi
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