[Neurologic diseases, mental retardation and reduction in work capacity]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Working ability reduction due to disease impacts many individuals, with neurological and mental conditions being significant contributors.
• Economic support is provided by law to individuals unable to work, underscoring the societal impact of disability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of neurological diseases and mental retardation on working ability in a cohort of 1,053 subjects.
• To identify the specific neurological conditions contributing to work incapacity and loss of autonomy.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study examining 1,053 subjects with various diseases causing reduction in working ability.
• Focus on neurological patients and individuals with mental retardation, categorizing disturbances into neuromotor pathology, mental retardation, mental deterioration/dementia, epilepsy, and other neurological diseases.

Main Results:

• Neurological diseases and mental retardation (MR) affected 39.51% of the examined population, causing varying degrees of work inability.
• Neuromotor pathology impacted 163 subjects, with hemiplegia (often due to cerebrovascular disease) being a primary cause of lost autonomy and working ability.
• Mental Retardation affected 162 subjects, with a high prevalence of pre-perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy observed in severe cases (40.4%).

Conclusions:

• Neurological conditions and mental retardation are major drivers of reduced working ability and loss of activities of daily living (ADL).
• Cerebrovascular disease and pre-perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy are key etiological factors in neuromotor deficits and MR, respectively.
• Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing targeted support and rehabilitation strategies.