Raising awareness of stroke

EVERY year, World Stroke Day is observed on Oct 29 to raise awareness of the serious nature and high rates of stroke worldwide, prevention and treatment of the condition, and better care and support for survivors and their caregivers.

Stroke was once viewed as a disease with a debilitating outcome. Now, with effective therapy administered in hospitals, patients have a fair chance of recovery with reduced disability if treated early.

However, the impact of stroke remains staggering. The most recent Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study showed that stroke is ranked as the second leading cause of death (about seven million deaths annually) and the third leading cause of death and disability combined among non-communicable disorders (NCDs).

The most comprehensive GBD stroke epidemiology study to date, it showed that the number of people who suffer a stroke, die from or live with a disability after a stroke has risen substantially worldwide between 1990 and 2021.

According to the World Stroke Organisation: Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2025, the estimated cost of stroke worldwide exceeds US$890bil (0.66% of global GDP) per year and is projected to almost double by 2050.

Yet, stroke is just the tip of the iceberg in the broader spectrum of neurological disorders.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 3.4 billion individuals, accounting for more than 40% of the global population, are affected by a neurological condition.

Stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, meningitis and idiopathic epilepsy are among the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and deaths worldwide.

Loss of neurological health (state of a healthy brain, spinal cord and nerves, which control thinking, movement and all bodily functions) also disproportionately affects people in low- and middle-income countries where healthcare resources are limited and access to services is restricted. This often exacerbates stigma, social exclusion and financial hardship.

Without doubt, brain health matters. That’s why this year, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is emphasising five key messages for achieving brain health – awareness, education, prevention, access and advocacy across the full human lifespan – with the theme, “Brain Health for All Ages”.

As we are poised to live and work longer in an age of longevity, building a strong brain reserve is vital. Invaluable prevention must start early.

CHEAH CHUN FAI

Ipoh