Lived experiences and community perceptions of ageing and cognitive health in sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for a scoping review

This scoping review will systematically map and synthesise existing evidence on lived experiences and community perceptions of ageing and cognitive health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study is motivated by the rapid demographic transition occurring in SSA, where increasing life expectancy is leading to a growing population of older adults, alongside a rising burden of age-related cognitive impairment and dementia. Despite this trend, research in the region has predominantly focused on biomedical and epidemiological aspects of cognitive health, with limited attention to how ageing and cognitive changes are experienced, understood, and interpreted within social and cultural contexts. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of how ageing and cognitive health are perceived and experienced by older adults and their communities across SSA. Specifically, the review will examine both lived experiences of ageing and cognitive change, as well as community-level beliefs, attitudes, and interpretations related to ageing and cognitive health and decline. These perspectives are shaped by sociocultural norms, intergenerational relationships, and local explanatory frameworks, which may include both biomedical and non-biomedical understandings. By systematically mapping this body of literature, the study aims to identify key themes, patterns, and variations across different contexts in the region. Methodologically, the review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley scoping review framework, incorporating methodological guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute and reporting in line with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search will be conducted across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE, African Journals Online, and African Index Medicus, as well as relevant sources of grey literature. The review will include qualitative and mixed-methods studies published between 2015 and 2025 that focus on community-dwelling older adults or community members in SSA. Study selection, data extraction, and synthesis will be conducted systematically using predefined criteria and tools, with findings analysed using thematic analysis. The expected outcomes of this scoping review are threefold. First, it will generate a structured mapping of the existing literature on lived experiences and community perceptions of ageing and cognitive health in SSA. Second, it will identify key knowledge gaps, particularly in relation to under-researched populations, settings, or conceptual areas. Third, it will provide insights that can inform future research, policy development, and the design of culturally appropriate interventions and public health strategies aimed at supporting cognitive health in later life. Overall, this study will contribute to a more holistic understanding of cognitive ageing in SSA by integrating social, cultural, and experiential dimensions into the evidence base. The findings are expected to be relevant for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working in ageing, mental health, and public health, and will support the development of contextually grounded approaches to cognitive health in the region.