This study aims to examine the global economic impact of neurological health disorders by quantifying the patient’s potential lost income due to neurological health disorders.

Neurological disorders, such as migraine headaches and Alzheimer’s disease, are a significant driver of health and economic burdens globally. In 2019, these conditions accounted for 3.2 billion prevalent cases and 65 million years lived with disability (YLDs) globally. Currently, there is not a large body of research focused on the economic impact of neurological disorders, specifically on lost income for people living with these disorders. 

We utilized the modelling framework from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study to estimate disease prevalence and YLDs. We also modeled labor force participation (LFP) and annual wage estimates due to 7 neurological disorders from 1990 to 2019 based on data from the Luxembourg Income Study and International Labour Organization. We estimated the economic burden of each neurological disorder in aggregate, due to lost income by multiplying YLDs by LFP and annual wages. US lost tax revenue was estimated using the federal mean-effective tax rate of 2020. All cost estimates were reported in 2021 US dollars.  

We estimated that $295 billion globally and $91 billion in the US were lost in potential income by people living with neurological disorders in 2019. Migraines alone accounted for 75% of global losses, resulting in $220 billion in lost income. Total US lost income due to these conditions translated to $12 billion in lost tax revenue.

Our estimates highlight the substantial economic burden associated with neurological disorders globally and in the US. This escalating economic burden creates new challenges for governments, health systems, employers, and patients. Novel strategies for prevention and treatment, coupled with streamlined healthcare systems, could potentially return more than $295 billion to the global economy.