Brain disorders cost EU €800bn a year

Serious brain disorders are costing the EU €800bn every year, and are damaging the lives of an estimated 700,000 Irish people, it has been claimed.

Figures revealed at a major two-day conference in Dublin, which ends today, show the issue is causing havoc across the continent.

According to the Healthy Brain, Healthy Europe policy conference — hosted as part of Ireland’s EU presidency — nations across the region must join forces to make more resources available to tackling brain disorders.

In particular, the meeting heard in-depth research into the causes of degenerative genetic conditions like Parkinson’s, acquired brain injuries, and other issues such as stroke and migraines need to be given greater priority and attention.

The estimated 200 neurological conditions involved are predicted to affect as many as one in every three people in the EU throughout their lives, costing the combined continental economy €800bn every year.

In Ireland alone, up to 700,000 people are believed to be suffering from some form of brain disorder, a situation Health Minister James Reilly said means improved co-ordination on the issue between EU members is needed.

“The challenge of diagnosing, treating and caring for those affected by brain disorders is daunting. No European country alone has the expertise, or resources, necessary to tackle all of the big questions in this field.

“We are making progress, but by working together we can do even more.”

EU commissioner for research, innovation and science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, added that addressing brain disorders should be seen as one of the important challenges of health service reform.

“While significant progress has been made, we still know very little about the human brain. It is only by understanding the full impact of brain disorders at a personal, societal and economic level that we begin to see how vital it is to do something about them.

“Perhaps the most ambitious undertaking in this area so far is Europe’s Human Brain project.

“With an investment of €1bn over the next 10 years, we hope to reconstruct the brain through supercomputer-based models and simulations — not only to apply this knowledge to help protect brain health and improve patient care, but also to develop groundbreaking new technologies in computers and robotics,” she said.