How common are the common neurologic disorders?

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NEUROLOGY 2007;68:326-337

© 2007 American Academy of Neurology

How common are the " common " neurologic disorders?

D. Hirtz, MD, D. J. Thurman, MD, MPH, K. Gwinn-Hardy, MD, M.

Mohamed, MPH, A. R. Chaudhuri, PhD and R. Zalutsky, PhD

From the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and

Stroke/National Institutes of Health (D.H., K.G.-H., M.M., A.R.C.,

R.Z.), Bethesda, MD; and National Center for Chronic Disease

Prevention and Health & Promotion/Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (D.J.T.), Atlanta, GA.

Abstract.

Objective: To estimate the current incidence and prevalence in the

United States of 12 neurologic disorders.

Methods: We summarize the strongest evidence available, using data

from the United States or from other developed countries when US

data were insufficient.

Results: For some disorders, prevalence is a better descriptor of

impact; for others, incidence is preferable. Per 1,000 children,

estimated prevalence was 5.8 for autism spectrum disorder and 2.4

for cerebral palsy; for Tourette syndrome, the data were

insufficient. In the general population, per 1,000, the 1-year

prevalence for migraine was 121, 7.1 for epilepsy, and 0.9 for

multiple sclerosis. Among the elderly, the prevalence of Alzheimer

disease was 67 and that of Parkinson disease was 9.5. For diseases

best described by annual incidence per 100,000, the rate for stroke

was 183, 101 for major traumatic brain injury, 4.5 for spinal cord

injury, and 1.6 for ALS.

Conclusions: Using the best available data, our survey of a limited

number of disorders shows that the burden of neurologic illness

affects many millions of people in the United States.