Study: Neurological Conditions Are Top Cause of Poor Health

Facts

• A new study published Friday in the Lancet reveals that neurological conditions, including migraines, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and dementia, have emerged as the leading cause of disability and ill health globally, affecting 43% of the world's population, or 3.4B in 2021.¹
• According to the study, an aging population and increased exposure to environmental, health, and lifestyle risk factors have contributed to a sharp rise in neurological disease over the past 30 years, up 18% worldwide.²
• The study was done by the University of Washington, Aukland University, and World Health Organization Brain Health Unit scientists. The analysis suggests that neurological diseases caused 375M years of healthy life lost in 1990 and 443M in 2021.³
• The study found tension-type headaches (2B cases) and migraines (1.1B cases) to be the most common neurological conditions. The research also indicates that diabetic neuropathy is the fastest-growing neurological condition, with 206M cases, a threefold increase.³
• The authors discovered global health disparities, with 80% of neurological fatalities and health loss in low- and middle-income nations. The death rate and years lost to illness, disability, or early mortality were five times greater in western and central sub-Saharan Africa.⁴
• Researchers advised prevention because many of these disorders lack treatments. Reducing 18 risk factors, including high blood pressure, could mitigate 84% of strokes and early deaths. Research suggests lowering blood sugar to normal could lessen dementia by some 15%.⁵

Sources: ¹Guardian, ²Independent, ³UPI, ⁴EL PAÍS English and ⁵The Irish News.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Healthdata. It's the most comprehensive study to date, finding neurological disorders to be a much bigger problem than previously understood and the biggest global health problem in 2021, even ahead of cardiovascular disease. These conditions affect 43% of the world's population. The authors advise that these largely preventable causes of health should be a global public health priority due to their massive public health impact.
• Narrative B, as provided by InfluenceWatch. The study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation has been criticized for providing too much funding through an integrated echo chamber of academics, nongovernmental organizations, business groups, and individuals. The Foundation wields power through a form of group-think in international health. They now want us to transfer public funds to treat neurological conditions, which will undoubtedly benefit Gates' business interests.

Predictions