The World Health Organization (WHO) released its Global Status Report on Neurology, and the findings are both sobering and urgent. As EBC, we recognise this report as a watershed moment for brain health advocacy globally.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: Over 1/3 of the world’s population is affected by neurological disorders. These conditions represent the leading cause of ill-health and disability globally, yet they remain vastly underprioritised in policy, funding and public awareness.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: For the first time, we have a comprehensive global baseline assessment under the WHO’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP 2022–2031).

This report does what evidence should do: it holds up a mirror to the current state of our global response – and what it reveals demands action. The report outlines four essential recommendations that must guide our collective efforts:

  • Make neurological disorders a policy priority through bold leadership and sustained investment
  • Expand access to neurological care by strengthening universal health coverage and health systems
  • Promote brain health across the life course with coordinated, intersectoral action on risk factors
  • Strengthen data systems and monitoring for evidence-informed decision-making and accountability

Despite recent strides in brain research, innovation and care, the European Union must step up to the challenge. We must advocate for the integration of #BrainHealth, neurological and mental alike, into national health strategies across all income levels. We must support capacity-building in under-resourced regions. And crucially, we must ensure that people living with brain conditions and their carers are at the centre of every policy decision. This is why EBC and the entire brain community are looking forward to the European Parliament work on advance Neurological and Mental Health strategies, and are building an European Coordination Plan for the Brain. Together, we can turn evidence into #impact and make brain health a shared global priority.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.