Neurological disorders represent a massive, yet frequently overlooked, global health challenge, impacting over 40% of the world’s population – that’s more than 3 billion people. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning: these conditions are linked to approximately 11 million deaths annually. Compounding this crisis, a staggering number of low-income countries struggle with an immense shortage of neurologists, facing an 80-fold deficit compared to high-income nations. This disparity in resources is a critical factor in why many of these preventable or treatable neurological conditions remain out of reach for vast segments of the population, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The WHO’s latest report on neurology paints a grim picture, revealing that fewer than a third of countries (just 32%) have a national policy dedicated to addressing neurological disorders, and a mere 18% report having specific funding allocated for these issues. This lack of policy and funding leads to fragmented and under-resourced health systems, ill-equipped to meet the needs of patients and their families. Key services such as stroke units, pediatric neurology, and rehabilitation care are often scarce or concentrated in urban centers, leaving many without access to essential life-sustaining treatments.
The report identifies the top 10 neurological conditions contributing to death and disability. These include stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, complications from preterm birth, autism spectrum disorders, and nervous system cancers. The scarcity of qualified health professionals, particularly neurologists, exacerbates the problem, making timely diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care a distant reality for many.
To combat this growing burden and address global health inequalities, the WHO is calling for urgent, coordinated global action. This includes prioritizing brain health, ensuring access to neurological care through universal health coverage, strengthening health systems, promoting brain health across the lifespan, and improving data collection for evidence-based decision-making. The organization urges governments to make neurological disorders a policy priority through strong leadership and sustained investment, ensuring that millions receive the care and recognition they deserve.