Frederic Destrebecq, Executive Director of the European
Brain Council explains the importance of tackling the growing burden of braindisorders in Europe
Over the last decades, neurological and mental conditions
have steadily progressed to become the leading causes of disability-adjusted
life years and the second leading cause of death worldwide. In Europe
alone, an estimated 179 million Europeans live with brain disorders and 1 in 3
are set to live with one within their lifespan. Every year, treating brain
conditions accounts for 35% of Europe’s total disease burden with a yearly cost
of €798 billion, of which 60% are related to direct costs (both medical and
non-medical) , which, in spite of the magnitude of these numbers,
are still considered to be underestimated and outdated. New epidemiological and
economic studies are currently underway to analyse the extent of this burden on
European and global society.
The Global Burden of Disease study (WHO, GBD 2016) estimated
that neurological disorders were the cause of 276 million DALYs (11,6% of
global DALYs for all diseases) and 9 million deaths (16,5% of total global
deaths in 2016). Neurological disorders were the leading cause group of global
DALYs and second leading cause group of deaths in 2016, while mental disorders
accounted for 13% of DALYs[5]. This high burden may be surprising as
there is a general lack of awareness on the pervasiveness of brain disorders.
However, the growing number of citizens being diagnosed with
brain conditions makes clear that the burden of these diseases place on society
will not change its course. This burden is continuous due to the
epidemiological transition from acute to chronic diseases and the increase in
life expectancy, but also because of several socio-economic, environmental and
behavioural health determinants.
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