Updated Rates Of Common U.S. Neurological Disorders

[Guest guest]

Updated Rates Of Common U.S. Neurological Disorders

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070129172536.htm

In an up-to-date review of most of the common neurological disorders

in the United States published in the January 30, 2007, issue of

Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of

Neurology, researchers reviewed studies from nearly 500 articles

published between 1990 and 2005 to determine the best available data.

The study found nearly one out of 1,000 people have multiple

sclerosis (MS). " Our estimate of MS prevalence is about 50 percent

higher than a comprehensive review from 1982. Whether this reflects

improvements in diagnosis or whether incidence is actually

increasing deserves further study, " said one of the study authors

Deborah Hirtz, MD, with the National Institute of Neurological

Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health, and a

member of the American Academy of Neurology.

The rate of Alzheimer's disease was also up substantially from the

past estimate, with the study finding 67 out of 1,000 elderly

Americans with Alzheimer's disease. The authors say these findings

merit further research. As for the rate of traumatic brain injuries,

the study found 101 out of every 100,000 Americans have a traumatic

brain injury each year. That's a 50-percent drop compared to the

past estimate. The authors say the decrease likely reflects more

restrictive hospital admission criteria, but improvements in motor

vehicle safety may have had an effect.

The study found 183 out of every 100,000 people suffer a stroke each

year, and one in 100 has had a stroke in the past. In addition, the

study found nearly 10 out of 1,000 elderly Americans have

Parkinson's disease, while nearly four out of every 100,000

Americans have ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Nearly five out of every

100,000 have a new onset spinal cord injury each year. As for

childhood neurological disorders, the study found nearly six out of

every 1,000 children have autism, with two out of every 1,000

children having cerebral palsy.

This review looked at currently available literature, which

presented a wide range of estimates for some diseases. For some

disorders the best available data was from western Europe, which was

extrapolated to the U.S. population. More high-quality studies from

the United States are needed.

" Current, accurate estimates of the numbers of people affected by

neurological disorders are needed to understand the burden of these

conditions on patients, families, and society, to plan and carry out

research on their causes and treatment, and to provide adequate

services to people who suffer from these illnesses, " said Hirtz, who

is also a member of the Quality Standards Subcommittee at the

American Academy of Neurology.