Neurology Foundation
Neurological diseases affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.
Common neurological diseases include Alzheimer's disease, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Brain tumours, Parkinson's disease, Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy amongst several others.
These diseases impact the lives of not only millions of patients in our country but also their families. They often leave patients with severe physical, cognitive and functional disabilities that devastate them and their families.
The average annual incidence rate of stroke in India is 145 per 100,000 population. This means approximately 17,400 people suffer from a stroke in Mumbai every year. 1.9 million people are affected by paralytic strokes in India. The lives of these patients can be significantly improved with timely and adequate acute medical treatment as well as long term rehabilitation.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder of the brain that affects the movement and functional abilities of the patient. In advanced cases, patients are no longer able to carry out their activities of daily living and remain dependent on their caregivers for the simplest of tasks. About 1million people in India suffer from Parkinson's disease, requiring intensive medical therapy and rehabilitation.
6.5 million people suffer from Epilepsy in India. Severe, refractory epilepsy has a profound impact on the functional and cognitive abilities of affected children and adults. Many of these patients require medication for prolonged periods of time which is a financial burden on the family. In a select population of patients with epilepsy, surgery may be an option which is expensive and beyond the reach of many patients.
Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder that results in severe motor developmental delay resulting from an insult to the developing brain either at the time of birth or shortly after.Cerebral palsy affects nearly 1 in 350 live births in India. Affected children may have profound impairment in motor and physical activities such as standing and walking, using their hands to hold objects and feed themselves as well as speaking. Many children remain wheelchair bound and completely dependent on caregivers for activities of daily living. Families need to devote a large amount of time, care and, of course, resources to help their children get adequate medical attention and rehabilitation. Medical care includes medicines, Botulinum toxin injections for spasticity, orthopaedic surgery for joint problems and life long rehabilitation in many children.
Autism is a devastating developmental disorder that affects in 1 in 68 children. Considered a genetic disorder by many authorities, autism results in significant developmental delay in language and social skills. The ability to communicate and interact socially is impaired in these children. Affected families require extensive medical services and developmental rehabilitation for prolonged periods.
