Neurological disorders surpass heart disease as leading global health concern

In a groundbreaking analysis released on Friday, researchers led by the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) revealed a startling revelation: conditions affecting the nervous system, including strokes, migraines, and dementia, have overtaken heart disease as the primary cause of ill health worldwide.

The study, conducted by hundreds of researchers and spanning from 1990 to 2021, examined 37 different neurological conditions across 204 countries and territories.

The findings, published in The Lancet Neurology journal, indicate that more than 3.4 billion people, accounting for 43 percent of the global population, experienced a neurological condition in 2021—far surpassing previous estimates.

Lead study author Jaimie Steinmetz emphasized the gravity of the findings, stating that nervous system conditions now constitute “the world’s leading cause of overall disease burden.”

The surge in cases, a staggering 59 percent increase over the past three decades, is primarily attributed to the aging and rapid growth of the global population.

Stroke emerged as the most significant neurological condition, responsible for 160 million years of healthy life lost. Other notable conditions include neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, dementia, nerve damage from diabetes, meningitis, and epilepsy. Shockingly, cognitive impairment from Covid-19 ranked 20th among the analyzed conditions.

The reclassification of stroke by the World Health Organization played a pivotal role in neurological conditions surpassing cardiovascular disease in the analysis.

Steinmetz highlighted that several conditions, such as neonatal encephalopathy and meningitis, contribute significantly to years of life lost due to their impact on children under five.

Although cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally, claiming 19.8 million lives in 2022, neurological disorders resulted in over 11 million deaths in 2021.

Tension headaches and migraines were identified as the most common neurological disorders, with diabetic neuropathy emerging as the fastest-growing condition due to the rising prevalence of diabetes.

Despite the lack of cures for most neurological conditions, the researchers underscored the importance of risk reduction strategies, including addressing high blood pressure, diabetes, and alcohol consumption. Moreover, they emphasized the urgent need for increased efforts to prevent, treat, and rehabilitate these disorders, particularly in disadvantaged countries.

Study co-author Valery Feigin issued a stark warning, stating, “The worldwide neurological burden is growing very fast and will put even more pressure on health systems in the coming decades.”

As neurological disorders continue to escalate, prioritizing comprehensive strategies to mitigate their impact remains imperative for global health systems.