A recent comprehensive study has uncovered that neurological diseases contribute significantly to the global disease burden. The research examined 37 distinct conditions, from neurodevelopmental disorders to emerging issues such as post-COVID-19 cognitive impairment, analyzing their risk factors on global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021.The findings indicate that, in 2021, these
conditions were the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), affecting approximately 3.40 billion people worldwide. The burden of DALYs attributed to these diseases has increased by 18.2% since 1990, even as age-standardized death rates and DALYs have decreased over the same period.
Key neurological conditions identified in 2021 include stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications from premature birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancers.
These results highlight the urgent need for effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies to combat the escalating global impact of neurological diseases.
The study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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