Global synergistic actions to improve brain health for human development

The global burden of neurological disorders is substantial and increasing, especially in low-resource settings. The current increased global interest in brain health and its impact on population wellbeing and economic growth, highlighted in the World Health Organization's new Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and other Neurological Disorders 2022-2031, presents an opportunity to rethink the delivery of neurological services. In this Perspective, we highlight the global burden of neurological disorders and propose pragmatic solutions to enhance neurological health, with an emphasis on building global synergies and fostering a 'neurological revolution' across four key pillars - surveillance, prevention, acute care and rehabilitation - termed the neurological quadrangle. Innovative strategies for achieving this transformation include the recognition and promotion of holistic, spiritual and planetary health. These strategies can be deployed through co-design and co-implementation to create equitable and inclusive access to services for the promotion, protection and recovery of neurological health in all human populations across the life course. In this Perspective, Owolabi et al. propose strategies to improve brain health and address the growing global burden of neurological disorders. They present a new framework - the neurological quadrangle - which aims to provide equitable and effective surveillance, prevention, acute care and rehabilitation of neurological disorders globally.

Automated summary

The global burden of neurological disorders is substantial, especially in low-resource settings. The World Health Organization's new global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders provides an opportunity to rethink the delivery of neurological services and propose pragmatic solutions to enhance neurological health. The neurological quadrangle, consisting of surveillance, prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation, is a new framework that aims to provide equitable and effective services for neurological disorders worldwide.