11 Million Lives Lost Annually: WHO Calls for Urgent Global Action on Neurological Care.
New WHO Report Warns of Widening Inequality in Brain Health; Only One-Third of Countries Have National Policies.
Geneva:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a global alarm on the escalating burden of neurological disorders, revealing that these conditions are responsible for over 11 million deaths each year and affect more than 3 billion people—nearly 40% of the world’s population.
According to the WHO’s new Global Status Report on Neurology, released today, fewer than one in three countries worldwide have a national policy to address neurological conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and migraine. The report warns that unless urgent, coordinated action is taken, millions more lives could be lost to preventable or treatable neurological diseases.
A Growing Crisis in Brain Health
The report identifies the top 10 neurological conditions contributing to global death and disability as of 2021:
1. Stroke
2. Neonatal encephalopathy
3. Migraine
4. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
5. Diabetic neuropathy
6. Meningitis
7. Idiopathic epilepsy
8. Neurological complications linked to preterm birth
9. Autism spectrum disorders
10. Cancers of the nervous system
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face the heaviest burden, yet remain the least equipped to respond. WHO data shows that low-income countries have up to 80 times fewer neurologists per 100,000 people than high-income nations.
“With more than one in three people in the world living with conditions affecting their brain, we must do all we can to improve the health care they need,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General, Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control. “Many neurological conditions can be prevented or treated effectively, yet services remain out of reach for most—especially in rural and underserved areas—where people face stigma, exclusion, and financial hardship.”
Key Findings: Stark Gaps in Care and Policy
The first-of-its-kind report gathered data from 102 of WHO’s 194 Member States (53%), reflecting the limited attention given to neurology in national health agendas. Among the findings:
Only 32% (63 countries) have a national policy on neurological disorders.
Just 18% (34 countries) have dedicated funding for neurological care.
Only 25% (49 countries) include neurological disorders in their universal health coverage benefit packages.
A mere 46 countries provide formal carer services, while only 44 countries have legal protections for carers, leaving millions—mostly women—without support.
Essential services such as stroke units, pediatric neurology, rehabilitation, and palliative care are often concentrated in urban centers, creating stark inequalities in access. Many low-income nations lack the data systems and research infrastructure necessary for effective policy-making, perpetuating underinvestment and weak health governance.
Brain Health: The Neglected Global Health Priority
The WHO report underscores that neurological conditions often require lifelong care, but fragmented systems, limited funding, and workforce shortages continue to deny patients consistent treatment. This lack of support not only harms individuals but also places enormous emotional and financial strain on families.
“We must work together to ensure that patients and their families come first,” Dr. Farrar emphasized. “Brain health must be prioritized and properly invested in, across all countries.”
Roadmap for Global Action
To address these challenges, WHO Member States adopted the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (2022–2031). The plan serves as a roadmap to help countries strengthen policy frameworks, ensure equitable access to care, improve data collection, and engage people with lived experience in designing inclusive health systems.
WHO has urged governments worldwide to take four key actions:
1. Make neurological disorders a national policy priority through strong leadership and sustained investment.
2. Expand access to neurological care under universal health coverage by strengthening health systems.
3. Promote brain health across the life course, addressing both risk and protective factors through multisectoral collaboration.
4. Improve data and monitoring systems to enable evidence-based decision-making and accountability.
A Call to Global Solidarity
The report concludes that without immediate action, the burden of neurological disorders will continue to escalate, further widening global health inequities. WHO’s message is clear: brain health is human health, and investing in neurological care is critical to achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development.
“Neurological care is not a luxury—it is a necessity for billions,” WHO stated, calling on governments, health partners, and civil society to unite in safeguarding the world’s brain health.
