Neurological diseases stalks the Americas- PAHO

The Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), quoting a new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, says close to 470 million people in the Americas, or about two in five people in the Region, are living with at least one non-communicable or injury-related neurological disorder, including migraine, stroke, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease.

The study, based on estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, found that the burden of neurological disorders in the Americas is evolving. While age-adjusted death rates have declined since 1990, more people are surviving these conditions and living longer with disability, increasing demand for rehabilitation, long-term care, and support services.

Led by researchers from the Pan American Health Organization, the study examined 19 non-communicable and injury-related neurological conditions across 38 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023.These included stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, migraine, tension-type headache, autism spectrum disorders, and traumatic brain injuries.

Neurological disorders affect the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves and can impair movement, memory, learning, communication, and behaviour.