A major new study has identified Guyana as one of the countries carrying the heaviest burden of neurological disorders in the Americas. The research, led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, reveals a surging crisis where nearly two in every five people across the region are living with conditions affecting the brain and nervous system.
The findings place Guyana alongside Haiti, Suriname, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Dominican Republic, and Paraguay as the nations hardest hit by these disorders. This high ranking underscores persistent gaps in the country’s ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat conditions such as stroke, dementia, and epilepsy.
According to the study, which utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, there is a significant shift in how these disorders affect the population. While death rates have declined since 1990, more individuals are surviving these conditions and living longer with significant disabilities.
In 2023 alone, neurological conditions in the Americas were responsible for approximately 1.1 million deaths and 37.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). These conditions now account for roughly 12% of the total burden from noncommunicable diseases and injuries in the region.
“Today, more people are surviving neurological disorders, but they are also living longer with their consequences,” stated Ramón Martínez, PAHO Health Metrics Specialist and lead author of the study. He emphasized that health systems must adapt to meet the growing need for rehabilitation and long-term care.
The study highlights that neurological health loss affects Guyanese and others in the region differently depending on their age:
- Children under five: Leading causes of health loss include neural tube defects, autism spectrum disorders, and epilepsy.
- Adolescents and young adults: Migraine has emerged as a primary cause of disability.
- Older adults: Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia, and stroke account for the largest share of the burden.
Notably, autism spectrum disorders were the only high-burden condition where disability rates continued to rise throughout the study period, signaling an urgent need for enhanced developmental services.
Researchers stressed that a substantial portion of this burden is preventable. High blood pressure was identified as the leading risk factor for stroke, while elevated blood glucose levels are significant contributors to Alzheimer’s and dementia. Environmental factors, such as air pollution and lead exposure, were also cited as major contributors to neurological decline.
“Protecting brain health starts long before the first symptoms appear,” said Renato Oliveira, Chief of PAHO’s Mental Health Unit. He noted that investing in the control of shared risk factors like obesity and tobacco use could deliver “major benefits for brain health”.
Despite the clear need for intervention, the study identified critical gaps in access to care in high-burden countries like Guyana. These include a shortage of specialized medical professionals, limited rehabilitation services, and significant barriers to accessing essential medicines and technologies.
To address this rising crisis, the study concludes that Guyana and its neighbors must integrate neurological care into primary health care and expand disability support services to accommodate a rapidly aging population.
