Brief Description of Public Health and Burden of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Physical and mental well-being is treasure for mankind in a competitive and progressive global scenario. For a country, result oriented tasks can be accomplished only with its healthy population. Along with many diseases of global concern, neurological disorders have drawn concern globally as these are sharing an increasing proportion in global burden of diseases. Further cases of neurodegenerative disorders, majorly affecting aged population, have been recently reported to record a considerable increase which has complicated the health and care-giving (old age homes) services as part of public health. Many public health policies have been laid down by many developed and developing countries in accordance of WHO guidelines which in turn based on GBD studies, made till date. Major share of neurodegenerative disorders is contributed by Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis & Multiple Sclerosis. The recent past has witnessed growing number of deaths and disability adjusted life years, DALY, caused by neurodegenerative diseases. Public health services and related government policies are not enough, according to WHO, to properly address the current situation. Lack of public awareness towards neurological disorders of all kind, is one of the major challenges to Figure out actual data; for prevalence of neuro-disorders.

Keywords: GBD study, WHO, Public health, neurological disorders, Neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Indian status.