Major new research published by lancet neurology In 2021, more than 3 billion people around the world were living with a neurological disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) contributed to the analysis of the 2021 Global Disease, Injury and Risk Factor Survey (GBD) data.

Neurological diseases are now the leading causes of illness and disability worldwide. The total amount of disability, illness, and premature death caused by neurological diseases (known as disability-adjusted life years, DALYs) has increased by 18% since 1990.

More than 80% of deaths and health losses from neurological diseases occur in low- and middle-income countries, where access to treatment varies widely. High-income countries have up to 70 times more neurospecialists per 100,000 people than low- and middle-income countries. .

Neurological diseases cause tremendous suffering to affected individuals and families and deprive communities and economies of human capital. This study is an urgent call to action to scale up targeted interventions to ensure that the growing number of people living with neurological conditions receive the quality care, treatment and rehabilitation they need. It should be. It is more important than ever that brain health is better understood, valued and protected from early childhood to later life. ”

AS Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

The top 10 neurological diseases contributing to health loss in 2021 are stroke, neonatal encephalopathy (brain damage), migraines, dementia, diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), meningitis, epilepsy, and neurological complications from premature birth. , autism spectrum disorder, nervous system. cancer.

Overall, neurological diseases cause more disability and health loss in men than women, but there are some diseases that disproportionately affect women, such as migraines and dementia.

Since 1990, the absolute number of people living with or dying from neurological conditions has increased, but the age-standardized DALY rate has decreased. This means that the increase in absolute numbers is mainly due to demographic changes and people living longer.

Diabetic neuropathy was the fastest growing neurological disease. The number of people suffering from diabetic neuropathy has more than tripled worldwide since 1990, rising to 206 million in 2021. This increase coincides with the rise in diabetes worldwide. Other symptoms of COVID-19, such as neurological complications (such as cognitive impairment and Guillain-Barre syndrome), were not present before, but now there are more than 23 million cases.

At the same time, as a result of improvements in prevention (including vaccines), care, and research for tetanus, rabies, meningitis, neural tube defects, stroke, and neurocysticercosis, the neurological burden and health losses from other diseases decreased by 1990. It has since decreased by more than 25%. (a parasitic infection that affects the central nervous system), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and neonatal encephalopathy (brain damage).

The study also looked at 20 modifiable risk factors for potentially preventable neurological conditions, including stroke, dementia and idiopathic intellectual disability.

By eliminating key risk factors, most importantly elevated systolic blood pressure and ambient and household air pollution, up to 84% of stroke DALYs could be prevented. Similarly, preventing lead exposure could reduce the burden of idiopathic intellectual disability by 63.1%, and lowering high fasting plasma glucose levels could reduce the burden of dementia by 14.6%. There is a gender. Smoking significantly contributed to the risk of stroke, dementia, and multiple sclerosis.

More investment needed to improve treatment, care and quality of life

At the 2022 World Health Assembly, Member States will develop the Interdisciplinary Global Plan of Action on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders 2022-2031 (IGAP), which includes an ambitious scope to address long-neglected neurological diseases. was adopted.

“The cross-cutting Global Plan of Action 2022-2031 sets out a roadmap for countries to improve the prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation of neurological diseases. Toward equity and quality care. We also need to invest in further research on risks to the brain to achieve access to health, improved support for health workers and appropriate services,” said WHO Director-General of Mental Health and Substance Use. said Deborah Kestel.

IGAP sets strategic goals and objectives to improve access to treatment, care and support for people with neurological disorders. Implement strategies to improve brain health and prevent disease. Strengthen research and data. and emphasize public health approaches to epilepsy and other neurological diseases.