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Neurological Disorders: How to Prevent 11 Million Deaths Worldwide Each Year

Auteur: Yandé Diop

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Troubles neurologiques : Comment éviter 11 millions de décès dans le monde par an

Neurological disorders are now responsible for more than 11 million deaths each year. In its Global Status Report on Neurological Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that more than three billion people, or 40% of the world's population, live with a neurological condition. These figures make brain and nervous system diseases the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. And yet, less than a third of countries have a national policy to address them. Three billion people live with a neurological disorder, 11 million deaths each year, 80 times fewer neurologists in low-income countries, only 32% of countries have a national policy, and 25% include this care in universal health coverage.

"WHO calls for action now to prevent millions of avoidable deaths and restore the brain to its rightful place in health policies."

A global health crisis still underestimated

The WHO report, the first of its kind, states that the majority of countries lack adequate budgets, strategies, or even infrastructure to address neurological conditions. Among the top ten conditions responsible for death and disability are stroke, Alzheimer's disease, migraine, meningitis, diabetic neuropathy, and cancers of the nervous system. "These diseases are not inevitable," said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General of the WHO. "Many of them can be prevented, diagnosed, and treated effectively. But this requires stronger health systems, strong political will, and sustained investment."

The gap between countries remains enormous, depending on their income level. Low-income countries have up to 80 times fewer neurologists than high-income countries. In Africa, some countries have only one neurologist for several million inhabitants. Only 32% of WHO member countries have a national policy, and barely 18% allocate specific financial resources to combat these conditions.

As for universal health coverage, it only covers neurological disorders in a quarter of the world's countries. "Millions of patients without diagnosis or treatment, particularly in rural areas, and persistent stigma that further isolates those affected are the direct results." Family caregivers, often women, are the first line of support for people with neurological disorders.

Yet only 46 countries have support programs and 44 have legal protections. This lack of recognition exacerbates social inequalities and places a heavy emotional and financial burden on families.

What the WHO recommends: prevent, diagnose, invest

Faced with this situation, the WHO is calling for a global surge and is proposing a clear roadmap through the Intersectoral Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders, adopted in 2022. The priority levers for action identified are aimed at making neurological health a global political priority, with sustainable financing, strengthening health systems to ensure diagnosis and care are accessible to all, promoting brain health throughout life, by acting on risk factors (nutrition, hypertension, trauma, pollution, stress, infections), and improving research and information systems, in order to guide public policies based on reliable data. "The stakes are colossal: preventing the loss of millions of lives, but also reducing the burden of disability and the silent suffering that these diseases inflict on families."

A global public health emergency

With more than one in ten deaths worldwide linked to a neurological condition, the WHO report places brain health at the heart of 21st-century priorities. Without concerted action, the number of people affected could increase further, particularly due to demographic aging and the rise of chronic diseases. "Brain health must become a global public health priority," the WHO insists. "Every country must act, not only to save lives, but to preserve human potential."

Auteur: Yandé Diop
Publié le: Mercredi 22 Octobre 2025

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