Nearly 470 million people across North and South America are living with at least one neurological disorder, according to a new study by researchers from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), a regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, found that the figure represents about two in every five people in the region and includes conditions such as migraine, stroke, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, PAHO explained that neurological disorders affect the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, impairing movement, memory, learning, communication and behaviour.
The study also revealed that although age-adjusted death rates from neurological disorders have declined since 1990, allowing nearly a fourfold difference in disease burden between countries with the highest and lowest rates, measured by years of life lost due more people to survive these conditions, many now require long-term care and rehabilitation services.
However, access to such care remains uneven across the Americas.
Researchers found nearly a fourfold difference in disease burden between countries with the highest and lowest rates, measured by years of life lost due to illness and disability.
According to the study, Haiti, Guyana and Suriname recorded the highest burden of neurological disorders, while Colombia, Peru and Argentina had the lowest.
The report attributed these disparities to differences in exposure to risk factors and persistent gaps in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care.
PAHO noted that a significant proportion of neurological disorders could be prevented through better control of modifiable risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use and harmful environmental exposures.
The study estimated that neurological disorders were responsible for approximately 1.1 million deaths and 37.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) across the Americas in 2023. Together, they accounted for about 12 per cent of the total burden of noncommunicable diseases and injuries in the region.
Lead author of the study and PAHO Health Metrics Specialist, Ramón Martínez, said the findings highlight the need for health systems to adapt to the growing demand for rehabilitation and long-term care.
“Today, more people are surviving neurological disorders, but they are also living longer with their consequences. Health systems must adapt to meet growing needs for rehabilitation, long-term care and support services for people living with disability,” he said.
The researchers identified high blood pressure as the leading risk factor for stroke, while elevated blood glucose levels significantly increased the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Environmental factors, particularly exposure to lead and air pollution, were also identified as major contributors to several neurological conditions.
Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director of PAHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health and a co-author of the study, said many neurological disorders share common risk factors with other noncommunicable diseases.
“Improving prevention and control of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use and harmful environmental exposures could deliver major benefits for brain health across the region,” Hennis said.
Also commenting, Renato Oliveira, Chief of PAHO’s Mental Health Unit and co-author of the study, stressed the importance of early prevention.
“Protecting brain health starts long before the first symptoms appear. Investing in prevention and risk-factor control can help reduce the burden of neurological disorders while also lowering the risk of other noncommunicable diseases that share the same determinants,” Oliveira said.
The authors concluded that tackling the growing burden of neurological disorders will require stronger prevention strategies, the integration of neurological care into primary healthcare systems, and expanded access to rehabilitation, long-term care and disability support services.
They added that with populations across the Americas ageing rapidly, sustained investment in brain health will be essential to reducing disability and improving quality of life in the years ahead.
Source:NAN
