The number of people living with or dying from neurological conditions such as stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and meningitis has risen sharply — by 18 per cent — over the last 30 years, according to a new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021.
Published in The Lancet Neurology journal, this finding is significant because the health burden of neurological conditions seems to be far greater than previously thought. Also, stroke, migraine and diabetic neuropathy feature high on the disease spectrum.
What the study says
The study says that in 2021, at least 3.4 billion people experienced a nervous system condition. The overall amount of disability, illness and premature death — a measurement known as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) — caused by neurological conditions increased by 18 per cent in three decades. The top ten among them are strokes, neonatal encephalopathy (newborn babies with deranged brain function), migraine, Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage caused by high blood sugar), meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications from preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder and nervous system cancers.
This is the first time that neonatal encephalopathy, diabetic neuropathy, pre-term birth complications and autism have moved up to the top 10 worrisome conditions. The most prevalent neurological disorders in 2021 were tension-induced headaches (around two billion cases) and migraines (about 1.1 billion cases).
In India, the rate of DALYs and deaths were more than 5,000 and 113 per 100,000 people in 2021.
What does the study mean for India?
Prof K Srinath Reddy, distinguished honorary professor at Public Health Foundation of India, (not attached to the present study) points out that Indians need to be vigilant about diabetic neuropathy and strokes. More so given our ageing population, increase in risk factors and co-morbidities, health system deficiencies in early detection and delayed treatment.
As diabetic neuropathy has more than tripled globally since 1990, in line with the increase in the prevalence of diabetes, India is at a tipping point. “With an already great burden of diabetes, India needs a primary healthcare system which can ensure that Type 2 diabetes is not only detected early but addressed, too. Remember nerve damage cannot be reversed,” says Dr Reddy.
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Although the study does not list specific data on strokes in India, Dr Reddy says they are the major cause of death and disability. Recently, a new study in Scientific Reports said that the prevalence of stroke had increased by 50 per cent over the last 17 years in India and at present one in four people are at risk of getting a stroke in their lifetime. The chance of stroke occurring at age 55 and above is one in five for women and one in six for men.
“This study highlights the need to look at risk factors. Hypertension needs to be adequately controlled and diagnosed early. Diabetes, air pollution, smoking (active and passive), heat effects of climate change and stressful living conditions are triggers too,” says Dr Reddy. “Often strokes are preceding warning signs (transient ischaemic attacks). If detected and treated at this stage, major strokes can be prevented. This too requires an efficient primary healthcare system so that it can respond fast and prevent irreversible neurological damage,” he adds.
The study itself suggests modifying 18 risk factors over a person’s lifetime. It singled out how controlling high systolic blood pressure could prevent 84 per cent of global DALYs from stroke.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
The report highlights the need to minimise deaths from Alzheimer’s and dementia with better management strategies and support systems for individuals with cognitive impairment. Dementia care requires comprehensive healthcare services. “However, in India, given the stigma around mental health, there is a lack of specialised care services and limited caregiver
education and support programmes. We need specialised dementia and stroke centres in neurological departments across the country,” says Dr Shivraj Hunge, consultant neurologist with Jupiter Hospital, Pune.
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Encephalitis in children
Encephalitis, although accounting for a smaller proportion of deaths compared to stroke and dementia, remains a concern due to its potential for outbreaks and high mortality rates, particularly among children. “Prevention strategies such as vaccination campaigns, vector control measures and improved sanitation infrastructure are crucial. Additionally, strengthening healthcare facilities, enhancing surveillance systems and increasing public awareness about symptoms and prevention are essential for timely diagnosis and treatment,” says Dr Hunge.
Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues .
Professional Background
Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature.
Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO.
Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives.
Awards and Recognition
Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.”
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care
"Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.
Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose.
2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series)
Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs.
"For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune.
3. Lifestyle & Wellness News
"They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions.
At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents.
4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure
For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics.
Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far.
Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership
Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions.
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