The burden of brain disorders in Norway: an analysis of data from the global burden of disease study 2023

The term 'Brain disorders' encompasses conditions affecting the brain and nervous system and includes neurological, mental, neurosurgical and substance use disorders. No study has previously estimated the combined burden of brain disorders in Norway.

Data source was the Global Burden of Disease database on prevalence, incidence, Years Lived with Disability (YLDs), Years of Life Lost (YLLs), and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), for brain disorders in Norway in 2023, with changes from 1990 to 2023.

Brain disorders accounted for 26·64% of all DALYs, 30·77% of all YLDs and 22·31% of all YLLs in Norway in 2023, no uncertainty intervals (UIs) given. The highest burden in terms of DALYs was observed for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementias (3·82% of all DALYs, UI: 1·72-7·87), anxiety disorders (3·79%, UI: 2·77-4·97), stroke (3·43%, UI: 3·04-3·89), headache (2·5%, UI: 1·94-3·18), and depressive disorders (2·22%, UI: 1·71-2.90). Leading causes of YLDs were anxiety (7·35%, UI: 5·35-9·65), headache (4·91%, UI: 3·91-5·88), and depression (4·29%, UI: 3·47-5.42), while AD and dementias (5·47%, UI: 1·35-13·54), stroke (5·46%, UI: 4·75-5·95), and self-harm (3·51%, UI: 3·17-3·97) were important causes of YLLs. Age-standardized DALYs decreased over the 34 years for stroke, meningitis, and alcohol use disorders, whereas Parkinson's disease, anxiety, depressive, eating, and drug use disorder increased.

Brain disorders are causing more than a quarter of all disease burden in Norway, which is of importance for prioritizing resources to health services and to research. Although there are concerning trends for some disorders, others have become considerably less burdensome since 1990, likely due to improvements in general health, prevention, and effective new treatments and rehabilitation.

The Gates foundation and Norwegian Institute of Public Health.