Neurological conditions ‘leading cause of disability and ill health worldwide’

The number of people living with, or dying from, neurological conditions such as stroke and dementia has risen substantially over the past 30 years (Joe Giddens/PA)

The number of people living with, and dying from, conditions that affect the brain such as stroke, dementia, migraines, epilepsy and nervous system cancers, has increased globally by 18% in the last three decades, analysis suggests.

In 2021, 3.4 billion people worldwide experienced neurological conditions, making it the leading cause of ill health and disability globally, according to research published in the Lancet Neurology journal.