The UAE is stepping into a pivotal role in global Alzheimer’s research, as one of the world’s largest population-genomics initiatives begins revealing insights that could reshape how the disease is detected, treated, and prevented — not just in the Gulf, but across the Global South.
At a recent high-level meeting in Abu Dhabi, experts from the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) joined UAE health leaders to explore how the country’s expanding genomic infrastructure can support earlier diagnosis, precision treatment, and more inclusive clinical research for dementia.
A Region on the Frontline of Ageing — and Rising Dementia Rates
The Middle East is ageing faster than almost any other region, and with longer lifespans comes a surge in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s. For the Gulf, this isn’t just a health issue — it’s a long-term economic and societal challenge.
Yet global dementia studies have historically focused on Western populations. That leaves major gaps in understanding how the disease progresses in genetically diverse communities — including Arabs, South Asians, and Africans.
The Emirati Genome: A New Model for Global Brain Health
The Emirati Genome Programme (EGP), launched in 2019 and now expanded nationwide, has already collected DNA from more than 815,000 citizens. Its mission: map genetic risks early and shift healthcare toward prevention.
DAC founding chairman George Vradenburg says this dataset could profoundly influence global Alzheimer’s research.
“We cannot design treatments for the world using only Western genetic data,” he told The Gulf Talk during his UAE visit.
“The Emirati genome gives us visibility into a population that is genetically admixed, unique, and underrepresented in clinical trials.”
The Emirati genetic profile combines European, African, and South Asian ancestry, making it a rare and scientifically valuable dataset for studying how Alzheimer’s develops across diverse backgrounds.
High-Cost Alzheimer’s Drugs and the UAE’s Forward-Looking Strategy
New anti-amyloid drugs — including lecanemab and donanemab — can slow early Alzheimer’s, but at $30,000 per year, they remain inaccessible to many countries.
The UAE is one of the few nations, alongside the US and Japan, that has already approved these therapies.
Vradenburg notes:
“The UAE has been ahead of the curve. The next step is understanding how these medicines perform in populations with different genetic, cultural and social backgrounds.”
Meanwhile, scientists are exploring more affordable options such as GLP-1 inhibitors (e.g., Wegovy, Mounjaro), which may offer independent benefits for Alzheimer’s — though research continues.
Prevention Still Accounts for Up to 65% of Alzheimer’s Risk
While genetics matter, lifestyle remains a powerful defence. According to DAC:
- 60–65% of dementia may be preventable through
diet, exercise, sleep, social engagement, and managing diabetes, hypertension, obesity. - Education and multilingualism significantly boost cognitive resilience.
- Many risk factors disproportionately affect men, even though women make up most Alzheimer’s cases.
A 2024 Lancet Commission report predicts the biggest future spikes in dementia will occur in:
- North Africa & the Middle East (+367%)
- Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa (+357%)
- These regions are now at the centre of the global conversation on brain health.
Africa, the Gulf, and the Missing Pieces of the Genetic Puzzle
Dr Mie Rizig, who leads DAC’s Africa Task Force, says the Global South will soon represent 70% of Alzheimer’s cases.
The Emirati genome, she adds, offers extraordinary potential — but also highlights why truly global data is essential.
“Emiratis are genetically admixed. To fully decode this, we need African, Asian, and Arab genomic datasets working together. You can’t complete the jigsaw without Africa.”
The UAE’s model of population-scale sequencing, she says, could guide brain-health strategies for Africa’s rapidly ageing societies.
A Gulf-Led Contribution to a Global Challenge
With one of the world’s fastest-growing genomic databases, the UAE is positioning itself as a critical hub for Alzheimer’s innovation. If fully leveraged, the Emirati Genome Programme could:
- Improve early detection for high-risk groups
- Reveal new population-specific risk variants
- Make clinical trials more representative
- Support precision therapies tailored to the Gulf and Global South
- Drive research that benefits millions beyond the region
In the fight against one of humanity’s most complex diseases, the Gulf is no longer just following global trends — it is helping set the direction.
