The Crisis at a Glance
Five numbers that demand action.
The headline figures from peer-reviewed research that anchor ANNI's mission.
Neurologists per 100,000 in Africa
vs. 8.45 in Europe
Stroke fatality at 3 years
in sub-Saharan Africa
Epilepsy treatment gap
in rural sub-Saharan Africa
Projected dementia rise by 2050
228K → 986K cases
Moyamoya data from Africa
research concentrated in East Asia
The Gap vs. ANNI's Response
Every gap in the evidence is matched by a programmatic response in ANNI's framework.
The Gap
Crisis
- 0.03 neurologists per 100,000
- 84% stroke fatality at 3 years
- 80% epilepsy burden in LMICs
- 330% dementia rise by 2050
- Near-zero African MMD data
ANNI Response
Action
- Train community health workers
- Community screening programs
- Epilepsy awareness campaigns
- Dementia registries & advocacy
- African MMD research registry
An evidence base that informs everything ANNI does.
This compendium presents a curated body of authenticated, peer-reviewed research evidence on the neurological disease burden in Africa.
This evidence base directly informs ANNI's programs, priorities, and advocacy agenda, demonstrating the urgent need for structured neurohealth intervention.
Why research evidence matters for ANNI
Without credible, African-rooted data, it is impossible to design effective services, secure funding, or influence policy.
ANNI is committed to translating evidence into action and closing the gap between research and real-world neurocare delivery.
All data sources include peer-reviewed journals, WHO reports, and academic institutions. Full citations are available in the References section.
Five Research Areas
Explore the evidence by topic.
Each area presents peer-reviewed statistics, expert analysis, and ANNI's programmatic response.
The Neurologist Shortage
Africa has just 0.03 neurologists per 100,000 — the most extreme specialist shortage on earth. Ten countries have none.
Read the Evidence →The Stroke Burden
Africans experience strokes 2–3× more often than Europeans, with up to 84% fatality at 3 years.
Read the Evidence →Epilepsy in Africa
80% of global epilepsy occurs in low- and middle-income countries. Up to 90% of rural cases receive no treatment.
Read the Evidence →Dementia in Africa
Dementia cases projected to rise 330% by 2050 — far outpacing current healthcare capacity.
Read the Evidence →Moyamoya Disease
The condition at the heart of ANNI's founding story. Almost no African data exists — high misdiagnosis risk.
Read the Evidence →Breaking a cycle of late presentation, misdiagnosis, and preventable death.
The evidence presented in this compendium shows a consistent and urgent pattern: Africa faces a growing neurological disease burden with limited specialist access, weak data systems, and low public awareness — leading to late diagnosis and preventable outcomes.
ANNI’s NeuroResearch & Data Hub is designed to break this cycle by:
Generating African-specific epidemiological data where it is lacking.
Developing predictive analytics and decision-support tools for neurohealth systems.
Creating patient registries to better capture disease prevalence and outcomes.
Producing policy briefs and research outputs for governments and funders.
Centering African voices in global neurohealth research and policy discussions.
Evidence demands action. Action demands partnership.
If you are a researcher, clinician, funder, or policy partner — collaborate with ANNI to translate this evidence into measurable change.