Neurological disorders have emerged as major health crisis in India: Expert

New Delhi: Neurological disorders are becoming a significant health challenge in India, impacting both non-communicable and communicable diseases. This year’s World Brain Day theme, “Brain Health and Prevention,” underscores the importance of early detection, risk management, and global education on neurological disease prevention.

Dr. Vinayak Joshi, Director of Dr. Joshi’s Neurotrauma Center and Senior Neurosurgeon, highlighted the critical need for increased awareness about brain health. Speaking at a check-up camp organized by Dr. Joshi’s Neurotrauma Center in Thane, he emphasized the need for public education on neurological diseases to facilitate early identification and treatment. He noted that many people remain unaware of brain-related conditions, which can progress into serious diseases if not addressed timely, resulting in the death of lakhs of people every year. 

He noted, “Genetics, stress and our lifestyle play major roles in brain health, but diet cannot be ignored. What we eat affects not only our weight but also our brain. Therefore, we should not ignore “brain foods”. There is no food that can protect against age-related diseases like dementia, but our brain needs good & quality food for better concentration throughout the day.”

Additionally, Dr. Joshi stressed, “Neurological disorders have become a serious public health challenge in India, affecting millions of people suffering from diseases such as stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. To keep the body healthy, it is necessary to take 8 to 10 hours of sleep.” 

“Scientists’ research found that when humans sleep at night their mind does the work of cleaning. The brain starts working on the waste disposal system. The brain expels waste material from the glymphatic while sleeping. The glymphatic system is strongly correlated to sleep processes. Sleep helps the glymphatic system remove brain waste. Astrocytes expand and contract to form channels for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to wash through the brain and eliminate waste. Along with this, the brain organizes its neurons while sleeping. So at the same time it also maintains your stress level,” Dr. Joshi.

He further added, “Another important non-communicable neurological disorder that needs the attention of policymakers is epilepsy. Globally, around 50 million people have epilepsy, among whom 10–12 million live in India. The prevalence estimates in India for 2019 range from 3·0 to 11·9 per 1000 of the population and incidence from 0·2 to 0·6 per 1000 of the population per year, with a major contribution from the rural population. In several other countries, new treatments such as monoclonal antibodies are being introduced and applied for particular neurological disorders, including migraine, multiple sclerosis, and other demyelinating conditions, but in India, the use of these costly medicines needs government funding, to provide for people in the low-income group at affordable cost.”

The rising prevalence of neurological disorders in India highlights the urgent need for improved public health strategies and increased access to advanced treatments.