The Global Macroeconomic Burden of Neurological Disorders

The macroeconomic consequences of neurological disorders have not been comprehensively quantified using a welfare-based framework. We estimated welfare losses attributable to neurological disorders across countries/territories, super regions, and globally in 2019 and 2021 and described age- and sex-specific patterns.

Using the Global Burden of Disease 2021, we extracted age- and sex-specific estimates by 5-year age groups for the cause group "neurological disorders" (including Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, headache disorders, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological disorders) at the country/territory, GBD super region, and global levels. We extracted cause-specific deaths and YLDs in GBD, derived YLLs from deaths, remaining life expectancy and discounting, and computed disability-adjusted life years (YLD+YLL). Purchasing power parity (PPP)-adjusted GDP data were obtained from the World Bank. We then estimated welfare losses using the value of lost welfare (VLW) framework, reporting YLD-derived (short-run) and YLL-derived (long-run) components. All monetary values are expressed in 2021 PPP-adjusted international dollars.

In 2021, the global VLW of neurological disorders was USD 10,710.51 billion (7.23% of global GDP), with the short-run component exceeding the long-run component overall. Headache disorders accounted for 44.7% of total VLW and Alzheimer's disease and other dementias for 35.7%. From 2019 to 2021, total global VLW changed little, while VLW/GDP declined slightly with rising GDP.

Neurological disorders impose substantial welfare losses worldwide, with higher burdens in high-income super regions and older age groups. These estimates may inform region-specific priorities across prevention, chronic care, and disability management.