Neurological disorders are on the rise, affecting a growing number of individuals worldwide, according to new findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study. In 2021, over 40% of the global population, totaling 3·4 billion people, were living with conditions impacting the nervous system, signaling an escalating health crisis.

This updated analysis, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, Seattle (WA, USA), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), expands upon previous research by including 22 additional conditions, such as infectious diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as the neurological implications of non-neurological disorders like preterm birth complications and COVID-19. Notable additions to the list of neurological disorders include neonatal encephalopathy and diabetic neuropathy, ranking among the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), along with stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, meningitis, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancers. Collectively, these conditions accounted for 443 million DALYs and 11·1 million deaths in 2021, marking significant increases compared to 1990, with approximately 80% of the burden observed in low-income and middle-income countries. These alarming statistics underscore the pressing need for heightened recognition of the global burden of neurological disorders and immediate action to address this critical public health challenge.

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References

  1. Neurology, L. (2024). Increasing awareness of the need for brain health. Lancet Neurology, 23(4), 325. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(24)00093-0

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