# Alternative splicing and the aging brain in AfrAbia: New frontiers in dementia research

## TL;DR

The paper highlights the need to study alternative splicing in the aging brain of AfrAbia to better understand dementia and develop region-specific biomarkers.

## Contribution

The paper emphasizes the underexplored role of alternative splicing in dementia mechanisms specific to AfrAbian populations.

## Key findings

- Alternative splicing dysregulation is linked to neurodegenerative diseases but remains understudied in AfrAbia.
- Population-specific biomarkers could improve dementia diagnosis in the region.
- Integrative transcriptomic approaches are needed to bridge research gaps in AfrAbian neuroscience.

## Abstract

AfrAbia (Sub-Saharan Africa and Arab world), is undergoing a significant demographic shift characterized by increased longevity and rising dementia rates. Despite this, molecular insights into brain aging in these regions, especially in RNA processing pathways like alternative splicing (AS), are virtually absent. AS promotes transcriptomic and proteomic complexity and is pivotal for brain function, with its dysregulation connected to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, current knowledge is overwhelmingly derived from Western populations, limiting global applicability. This perspective synthesizes the mechanisms and regulatory elements of AS, its role in aging and neurodegeneration, and emerging biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. Special attention is paid to ancestry-associated splicing variants and fluid biomarker development in AfrAbian cohorts. We argue for inclusive, population-specific molecular studies to bridge disparities in dementia diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

•AfrAbia's unique genomics remain unexplored in brain aging and dementia splicing studies.•Alternative splicing may uncover novel dementia mechanisms in AfrAbian populations.•Population-specific biomarkers could revolutionize early dementia diagnosis in AfrAbia.•This Perspective calls for integrative bioinformatics and transcriptomic approaches.•Future AfrAbian neuroscience collaborations can close critical molecular research gaps.

AfrAbia's unique genomics remain unexplored in brain aging and dementia splicing studies.

Alternative splicing may uncover novel dementia mechanisms in AfrAbian populations.

Population-specific biomarkers could revolutionize early dementia diagnosis in AfrAbia.

This Perspective calls for integrative bioinformatics and transcriptomic approaches.

Future AfrAbian neuroscience collaborations can close critical molecular research gaps.