Up to one billion people worldwide suffer from neurological disorders ranging from migraines to Alzheimer's disease, the World Health Organization said in a report on Tuesday.

The report, entitled Neurological disorders: Public health challenges, said 50 million people have epilepsy and 24 million have Alzheimer's and other dementias that often require extensive care as they progress.

An aging population in both developed and developing countries means the problem will worsen, said Rita Levi-Montalcini, winner of a Nobel Prize in Medicine.

"The burden of neurological disorders is reaching a significant proportion in countries with a growing percentage of the population over 65 years," Levi-Montalcini said in commenting on the report.

The disorders also include migraine, strokes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and brain injuries that affect the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, and muscles. 

The disorders may cause memory loss, speech and behavioral problems. An estimated 6.8 million people die every year as a result of neurological disorders, the UN agency said.

Access to care is often difficult for people with neurological disorders and their families, the report's authors said.

"Despite the fact that highly effective, low-cost treatments are available, as many as nine out of 10 people suffering from epilepsy in Africa go untreated," said Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO.

According to the report, treatments are not available because of:

  • Inadequate health delivery systems.
  • Lack of trained personnel.
  • Poor supply of essential drugs, including cost-effective medications such as Aspirin to prevent stroke.
  • Prevalence of traditional beliefs and practices.

Simple actions such as immunization against meningitis and early identification and treatment of malaria, as well as an expansion of preventive steps such as wearing helmets and seat belts, could help reduce the burden of neurological disorders, the report said.

The authors called for greater awareness and commitment from decision makers.