No group of chronic diseases costs the world more than brain disorders, with one third of the adult population suffering from a mental disorder every year.
- Barbara Sahakian
Every year disorders of the brain, including dementia, stroke, and mental health issues, cost the UK an estimated £112 billion* (€134 billion), according to a new report by leading neuroscientists. The figure, which includes direct medical costs as well as indirect costs (i.e. lost production due to work absence or early retirement), is more than the GDP of New Zealand.
The research, led by scientists from the University of Cambridge, University of Hertfordshire and Imperial College London, is the most recent and comprehensive study conducted on the costs and prevalence of brain disorders in the UK.
Professor Barbara Sahakian, one of the lead researchers from the University of Cambridge and President of the British Association for Psychopharmacology, said: “Given the ageing population, the prevalence and cost of UK brain disorders is likely to continue to increase, adding additional pressure on the NHS and Social Services, particularly in regard to the cost of institutionalised care.”
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Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge
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