Preventable neurological diseases worldwide.

Neuropsychiatric disorders make up a large proportion of medical conditions causing disability and death worldwide. This paper reviews the most significant neurological disorders, emphasizing the preventability of most of them. The worldwide impact of cerebrovascular disease, protein-energy malnutrition causing cognitive impairment, tetanus, dementia, meningitis, and epilepsy is summarized. The burden of neurological dysfunction as a complication of tuberculosis, measles, road accidents, congenital anomalies, malaria, falls, war, violence, alcohol, HIV, diabetes, syphilis, and rheumatic heart disease might also be lessened by preventive measures. As in other health problems, major risk factors are poverty, poor access to health care, and social instability.