The United States spent $789 billion on the most common neurological diseases in 2014, according to a study published in Annals of Neurology. Researchers found the amount the United States spends on neurological diseases will continue to grow through 2050, aligning with the projected doubling of the elderly population.
Clifton L. Gooch, MD, professor and chair of Tampa-based University of South Florida's Morsani College of Medicine's department of neurology, headed the study. Researchers analyzed world literature detailing the most costly and prevalent neurological diseases in the United States.
Here are six observations:
1. The American Neurological Association-commissioned study investigated the annual cost of nine common neurological diseases and disorders:
• Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
• Low back pain
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Migraine
• Epilepsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal cord injury
• Parkinson's disease
2. Approximately 100 million Americans experience neurological disease every year.
3. Of the diseases, Alzheimer's and other dementias captured $243 billion of the total $789 billion in 2014. Chronic low back pain accounted for $177 billion and stroke accounted for $110 billion.
4. By 2030, the costs of dementia and stroke will likely surpass $600 billion.
5. Dr. Gooch argued neurological research deserves its own "Moonshot" effort, like cancer, to "discover treatments which can mitigate, and ultimately cure, the major neurological diseases which have such profound effects in our patients and for the national economy."
6. Dr. Gooch and his team recommend the following actions to reduce costs:
• Boost translational research in preventative and disease-modifying therapy
• Improve outcome and comparative effectiveness research
• Track and database neurological disease
• Leverage advocacy by coordinating efforts at the individual, neurology association as well as local, state and federal government levels to prioritize funding initiatives