PREVENTABLE NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES WORLDWIDE

Neuropsychiatric disorders make up a large proportion of medical condi tions causing disability and death worldwide. This paper reviews the m ost significant neurological disorders, emphasizing the preventability of most of them. The worldwide impact of cerebrovascular disease, pro tein-energy malnutrition causing cognitive impairment, tetanus, dement ia, meningitis, and epilepsy is summarized. The burden of neurological dysfunction as a complication of tuberculosis, measles, road accident s, congenital anomalies, malaria, falls, war, violence, alcohol, HIV, diabetes, syphilis, and rheumatic heart disease might also be lessened by preventive measures. As in other health problems, major risk facto rs are poverty, poor access to health care, and social instability.