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A groundbreaking study published in The Lancet Neurology has revealed that neurological conditions, including epilepsy, dementia, and stroke, have become the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide. The analysis, which examined data spanning over three decades, found that neurological disorders affected an astonishing 3.4 billion people in 2021, marking a dramatic rise in global health burdens.
The research highlights a significant increase in the prevalence of various neurological conditions, with stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and meningitis among the most prominent contributors. The surge in these disorders is attributed to a combination of factors, including an aging global population, increasing exposure to environmental and lifestyle risk factors, and metabolic influences.
Between 1990 and 2021, the overall burden of disability, illness, and premature death caused by neurological conditions surged by 18%. The study revealed that the years of healthy life lost due to these conditions increased from approximately 375 million to 443 million during this period.
Among the top ten contributors to neurological health loss in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetic neuropathy. Surprisingly, the neurological consequences of COVID-19, including cognitive impairment and Guillain-Barré syndrome, ranked 20th, underlining the significant, yet often overlooked, impact of the pandemic on neurological health.
Tension-type headaches and migraines emerged as the most prevalent neurological disorders worldwide, affecting billions of people. Meanwhile, diabetic neuropathy, which had a relatively low prevalence in 1990, has seen a dramatic rise, becoming the fastest-growing neurological condition. In 2021, it was responsible for more than 206 million cases globally, a sharp increase from earlier decades.
The study also raised serious concerns about the global disparity in the impact of neurological conditions. More than 80% of deaths and health loss related to these disorders occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to medical treatment and rehabilitation services remains limited. In contrast, high-income regions such as Asia Pacific and Australasia report comparatively lower rates of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and mortality, thanks to better healthcare infrastructure.
In particular, sub-Saharan Africa faces alarmingly high rates of neurological disorders, with western and central parts of the continent showing some of the highest rates of neurological health loss globally. These areas are burdened by inadequate healthcare systems, making it difficult for people to access necessary treatments.
This alarming trend underscores the growing global health challenge posed by neurological conditions and calls for more focused attention on prevention, treatment, and healthcare access, especially in low-resource settings.
As neurological conditions continue to emerge as a leading global health issue, the study urges governments and health organizations worldwide to prioritize strategies aimed at addressing these conditions and mitigating their growing impact on global health.
