New research from JAMA Neurology just dropped, and the numbers are staggering.
According to this national analysis, more than half of American adults meet criteria for disorders of the nervous system. And this count does not even include many major psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or substance use disorders.
That means the true burden on our nervous systems is likely far higher than what the study captured. Yet as a healthcare system and as a society, we often under-attend to these conditions compared with other organ systems.
To put the study in context
🧠 Over 50 percent of adults screened met criteria for at least one neurologic condition
🧠 The most common were migraine, tension-type headache, neuropathic pain, ADHD, and autism
🧠 The prevalence was consistent across demographic groups, showing this is not a niche issue
🧠 These conditions carry significant personal, economic, and societal impact
The brain is not separate from the rest of medicine. It is the command center of the nervous system, and this study reinforces why we need more clinicians who are trained and comfortable treating the brain and central nervous system health across settings.
If more than half the country is experiencing these disorders, then nervous system health is not a specialty issue. It is a public health issue.
Full study here: https://lnkd.in/eppPxs8X
Filed under: General Problems
The CNS and Nervous System in general are a major impact on the health community. I’m Epileptic and in Michigan, I have a very hard time finding a neurologist in my area, and takes my insurance, and is knowledgeable enough, so I travel 2 hours to see my neurologist that has the right equipment to take care of me!