Primordial prevention: The missing link in neurological care

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Stroke and neurodegenerative diseases pose a significant and increasing global health burden.
• Risk factors for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases emerge early in life, often decades before symptoms appear.
• Current interventions often focus on later stages, highlighting a need for earlier preventive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the critical need for primordial prevention in combating stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.
• To advocate for early intervention strategies to address risk factors before disease onset.
• To highlight the potential of primordial prevention in enhancing both longevity and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• This study is a conceptual review and synthesis of existing research on the etiology and prevention of neurological disorders.
• It analyzes the timeline of risk factor development for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.
• It proposes primordial prevention as a key strategy.

Main Results:

• Risk factors for major neurological conditions are established early in life.
• Clinical manifestations appear much later, indicating a long preclinical phase.
• Primordial prevention offers a viable strategy to address these early risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Primordial prevention is essential for long-term population health.
• Implementing primordial prevention can reduce the incidence and impact of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.
• This strategy is key to increasing healthspan and lifespan.