Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Use Of Mobile Technology To Identify Behavioral Mechanisms Linked To Mental Health Outcomes In Kenya: Protocol For Development And Validation Of A Predictive Model, Willie Njoroge, Rachel Maina, Frank Elena, Lukoye Atwoli, Anthony Ngugi, Srijan Sen, Stephen Wong, Linda Khakali, Andrew Aballa, James Orwa, Moses Nyongesa, Jasmit Shah, Amina Abubakar, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

Objective:This study proposes to identify and validate weighted sensor stream signatures that predict near-term risk of a major depressive episode and future mood among healthcare workers in Kenya.

Approach: The study will deploy a mobile application (app) platform and use novel data science analytic approaches (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning) to identifying predictors of mental health disorders among 500 randomly sampled healthcare workers from five healthcare facilities in Nairobi, Kenya.

Expectation: This study will lay the basis for creating agile and scalable systems for rapid diagnostics that could inform precise interventions for mitigating depression and ensure a healthy, resilient …

Correction: Prevalence Of Lifestyle Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Estimated Framingham 10-Year Risk Scores Of Adults With Psychotic Disorders Compared To Controls At A Referral Hospital In Eldoret, Kenya., Edith Kwobah, Nastassja Koen, Ann Mwangi, Lukoye Atwoli, Dan Stein

Brain and Mind Institute

No abstract provided.

Making Cities Mental Health Friendly For Adolescents And Young Adults, Pamela Y. Collins, Moitreyee Sinha, Tessa Concepcion, George Patton, Thaisa Way, Layla Mccay, Augustina Mensa-Kwao, Helen Herrman, Evelyne De Leeuw, Lukoye Atwoli

Brain and Mind Institute

Urban life shapes the mental health of city dwellers, and although cities provide access to health, education and economic gain, urban environments are often detrimental to mental health1,2. Increasing urbanization over the next three decades will be accompanied by a growing population of children and adolescents living in cities3. Shaping the aspects of urban life that influence youth mental health could have an enormous impact on adolescent well-being and adult trajectories4. We invited a multidisciplinary, global group of researchers, practitioners, advocates and young people to complete sequential surveys to identify and prioritize the characteristics of a mental health-friendly city for …

Prevalence Of Lifestyle Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Estimated Framingham 10-Year Risk Scores Of Adults With Psychotic Disorders Compared To Controls At A Referral Hospital In Eldoret, Kenya, Edith Kwobah, Nastassja Koen, Ann Mwangi, Lukoye Atwoli, Dan Stein

Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction: Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, suboptimal diet, and inadequate physical activity have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. There are limited data on these risk factors among patients with psychosis in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish the prevalence of lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors, and the 10-year cardiovascular risk scores and associated factors in patients with psychosis compared to controls at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.

Methods: A sample of 297 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar mood disorder; and 300 controls matched for age and sex …

12-Month Substance Use Disorders Among First-Year University Students In Kenya, Florence Jaguga, Muthoni Mathai, Caroline Ayuya, Ongecha Francisca, Catherine Mawia Musyoka, Jasmit Shah, Lukoye Atwoli

Brain and Mind Institute

Objectives: The period of entry into university represents one of vulnerability to substance use for university students. The goal of this study is to document the 12-month prevalence of substance use disorders among first year university students in Kenya, and to test whether there is an association between substance use disorders and mental disorders.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey conducted in 2019 and 2020 as part of the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) survey initiative. A total of 334 university students completed the survey. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic characteristics …

Coping Mechanisms During The Covid-19 Pandemic And Lockdown In Metropolitan Johannesburg, South Africa: A Qualitative Study, Nerli Paredes Ruvalcaba, Andrew Wooyoung Kim, Nokubonga Ndaba, Lindile Cele, Someleze Swana, Edna Bosire, Aneesa Moolla

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged stress on numerous fronts. While the acute health impacts of psychosocial stress due to the pandemic are well-documented, less is known about the resources and mechanisms utilized to cope in response to stresses during the pandemic and lockdown.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and describe the coping mechanisms adults utilized in response to the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020 South African lockdown.

Methods: This study included adults (n=47: 32 female; 14 male; 1 non-binary) from the greater Johannesburg region in South Africa. Interviews …

The Effects Of Height-For-Age And Hiv On Cognitive Development Of School-Aged Children In Nairobi, Kenya: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis, Rachel Maina, Jia He, Amina Abubakar, Miguel Perez-Garcia, Manasi Kumar, Jelte M. Wicherts

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Empirical evidence indicates that both HIV infection and stunting impede cognitive functions of school-going children. However, there is less evidence on how these two risk factors amplify each other’s negative effects. This study aimed to examine the direct effects of stunting on cognitive outcomes and the extent to which stunting (partially) mediates the effects of HIV, age, and gender on cognitive outcomes.

Methodology: We applied structural equation modelling to cross-sectional data from 328 children living with HIV and 260 children living without HIV aged 6–14 years from Nairobi, Kenya to test the mediating effect of stunting and predictive …

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Computerized Battery For Neuropsychological Evaluation Of Children (Benci) Among School Aged Children In The Context Of Hiv In An Urban Kenyan Setting, Rachel Maina, He Jia, Amina Abubakar, Miguel Perez-Garcia, Manasi Kumar, Jelte M. Wicherts

Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction Culturally validated neurocognitive measures for children in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries are important in the timely and correct identification of neurocognitive impairments. Such measures can inform develop‐ ment of interventions for children exposed to additional vulnerabilities like HIV infection. The Battery for Neuropsy‐ chological Evaluation of Children (BENCI) is an openly available, computerized neuropsychological battery specifically developed to evaluate neurocognitive impairment. This study adapted the BENCI and evaluated its reliability and validity in Kenya.

Methodology The BENCI was adapted using translation and back‐translation from Spanish to English. The psy‐ chometric properties were evaluated in a case–control study of 328 …

The Ethical And Validity Conundrum In Epilepsy Research In Lmic Settings, Pauline Samia, Adeel Shah, Archana Patel, Philip Olielo, Lionel Mudave, Samson Gwer

Brain and Mind Institute

In the last few decades, research in epilepsy has significantly improved understanding of risk factors and etiologies associated with epilepsy, promoting greater access to interventions and medications that have improved health-related outcomes for patients. However, these advances and benefits are not being felt evenly on a global scale due to significant inequalities in access to and utilization of research resources and expertise in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

To promote effective research output, and advance evidence-based practices; the context, disease burden, and challenges that hinder good research need to be re-defined and addressed. This is key in facilitating implementation of coherent …

Association Between Suicide Rate And Human Development Index, Income, And The Political System In 46 Muslim-Majority Countries: An Ecological Study, S. M. Yasir Arafat, Marthoenis Marthoenis, Murad Khan, Mohsen Rezaeian

Brain and Mind Institute

Very little has been researched assessing the relationship between the suicide rate and the ecological perspectives of the country, especially in the Muslim majority countries. We aimed to determine the association between suicide rate and the ecological parameters of 46 Muslim majority countries. We extracted the Muslim majority countries and their suicide rate, income distribution, distribution of the WHO region and continents, and Human Development Index (HDI). We assessed the correlation of the proportion of Muslim populations, the total population of the countries, number of suicides, continent, income group, political system, and HDI score with the suicide rate. The median …

Perceptions And Knowledge Towards Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among A Subpopulation Of Adults In Kenya: An English Survey At Six Healthcare Facilities, Jasmit Shah, Abdulaziz Mansur Abeid, Karishma Sharma, Soraiya Manji, Jamila Nambafu, Robert Korom, Keya Patel, Rajiv Patel, Reena Shah, Sayed Karar

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Vaccine hesitancy, as defined by the WHO, is the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines and is one of the ten threats to global health in 2019. Vaccine hesitancy remains a complex matter influenced by multiple factors, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between November 2021 and January 2022 among the general adult public seeking care at six different healthcare facilities in Kenya. The survey, in English, consisted of questions based on demographics, knowledge, and attitudes, including hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine.

Results: Of the 3996 surveys collected, 55.1% were from …

Modifying Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy For Peripartum Adolescents In Sub-Saharan African Context: Reviewing Differential Contextual And Implementation Considerations, Manasi Kumar, Helen Verdeli, Shekhar Saxena, Inge Petersen, Keng Yen Huang, Caleb Othieno, Nancy Grote, Roslyn Law, Jurgen Unutzer, Mary Mckay

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: This study describes adaptation and modification of World Health Organization (WHO) recommended group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT-G) for depressed peripartum adolescents. The adaptation process includes accommodating contextual factors and strategies to address intervention implementation barriers, such as engagement problems with adolescents, caregivers, and providers, and stigma and dearth of mental health specialists. The modifications include and adolescent relevant iterations to the therapy format and content.

Methods: A multi-stakeholder led two-stage intervention adaptation and modification process integrating mixed qualitative methods were used with pregnant and parenting adolescents, their partners, and health care workers. In-depth interviews focusing on personal, relationship, social, and …

Sleep Deprivation And Neurological Disorders, Muhammed Bishir

Brain and Mind Institute

Sleep plays an important role in maintaining neuronal circuitry, signalling and helps maintain overall health and wellbeing. Sleep deprivation (SD) disturbs the circadian physiology and exerts a negative impact on brain and behavioural functions. SD impairs the cellular clearance of misfolded neurotoxin proteins like α-synuclein, amyloid-β, and tau which are involved in major neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. In addition, SD is also shown to affect the glymphatic system, a glial-dependent metabolic waste clearance pathway, causing accumulation of misfolded faulty proteins in synaptic compartments resulting in cognitive decline. Also, SD affects the immunological and …

Extract And Active Principal Of The Neotropical Vine Souroubea Sympetala Gilg. Block Fear Memory Reconsolidation, Anthony Murkar, Hristian Cayer, Jon James, Tony Durst, John T. Arnason, Pablos E. Sanchez-Vindas, M. Otarola Rojas, Zul Merali

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Souroubea sympetala Gilg. is a neotropical vine native to Central America, investigated as part of a targeted study of the plant family Marcgraviaceae. Our previous research showed that extract of S. sympetala leaf and small branch extract had anxiolytic effects in animals and acts as an agonist for the GABAA receptor at the benzodiazepine binding site. To date, the potential effects of S. sympetala and its constituents on reconsolidation have not been assessed. Reconsolidation, the process by which formed memories are rendered labile and susceptible to change, may offer a window of opportunity for pharmacological manipulation of learned fear. …

Putative Adult Neurogenesis In Old World Parrots: The Congo African Grey Parrot (Psittacus Erithacus) And Timneh Grey Parrot (Psittacus Timneh), Pedzisai Mazengenya, Adhil Bhagwandin, Paul R. Manger, Amadi O. Ihunwo

Brain and Mind Institute

In the current study, we examined for the first time, the potential for adult neurogenesis throughout the brain of the Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) and Timneh grey parrot (Psittacus timneh) using immunohistochemistry for the endogenous markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which labels proliferating cells, and doublecortin (DCX), which stains immature and migrating neurons. A similar distribution of PCNA and DCX immunoreactivity was found throughout the brain of the Congo African grey and Timneh grey parrots, but minor differences were also observed. In both species of parrots, PCNA and DCX immunoreactivity was observed in …

Putative Adult Neurogenesis In Two Domestic Pigeon Breeds (Columba Livia Domestica): Racing Homer Versus Utility Carneau Pigeons, Pedzisai Mazengenya, Adhil Bhagwandin, Pilani Nkomozepi, Paul R. Manger, Amadi O. Ihunwo

Brain and Mind Institute

Generation of neurons in the brains of adult birds has been studied extensively in the telencephalon of song birds and few studies are reported on the distribution of PCNA and DCX in the telencephalon of adult non-song learning birds. We report here on adult neurogenesis throughout the brains of two breeds of adult domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica), the racing homer and utility carneau using endogenous immunohistochemical markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) for proliferating cells and doublecortin (DCX) for immature and migrating neurons. The distribution of PCNA and DCX immunoreactivity was very similar in both pigeon breeds with only …

The Dynamics Of Adult Neurogenesis In Human Hippocampus, Amadi O. Ihunwo, Lackson H. Tembo, Charles Dzamalala

Brain and Mind Institute

The phenomenon of adult neurogenesis is now an accepted occurrence in mammals and also in humans. At least two discrete places house stem cells for generation of neurons in adult brain. These are olfactory system and the hippocampus. In animals, newly generated neurons have been directly or indirectly demonstrated to generate a significant amount of new neurons to have a functional role. However, the data in humans on the extent of this process is still scanty and such as difficult to comprehend its functional role in humans. This paper explores the available data on as extent of adult hippocampal neurogenesis …

Astrocyte Morphology, Heterogeneity, And Density In The Developing African Giant Rat (Cricetomys Gambianus), Matthew A. Olude, Oluwaseun A. Mustapha, Oluwatunde A. Aderounmu, James O. Olopade, Amadi O. Ihunwo

Brain and Mind Institute

Astrocyte morphologies and heterogeneity were described in male African giant rats (AGR; Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse) across three age groups (five neonates, five juveniles, and five adults) using Silver impregnation method and immunohistochemistry against glial fibrillary acidic protein. Immunopositive cell signaling, cell size and population were least in neonates, followed by adults and juveniles, respectively. In neonates, astrocyte processes were mostly detected within the glia limitans of the mid and hind brain; their cell bodies measuring 32 ± 4.8 μm in diameter against 91 ± 5.4 μm and 75 ± 1.9 μm in juveniles and adults, respectively. Astrocyte heterogeneity in …

Adult Neurogenesis In The Four-Striped Mice (Rhabdomys Pumilio), Olatunbosun O. Olaleye, Amadi O. Ihunwo

Brain and Mind Institute

In this study, we investigated non-captive four-striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) for evidence that adult neurogenesis occurs in the adult brain of animal models in natural environment. Ki-67 (a marker for cell proliferation) and doublecortin (a marker for immature neurons) immunostaining confirmed that adult neurogenesis occurs in the active sites of subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle with the migratory stream to the olfactory bulb, and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. No Ki-67 proliferating cells were observed in the striatum substantia nigra, amygdala, cerebral cortex or dorsal vagal complex. Doublecortin-immunoreactive cells were observed in …