Brain disorders cost UK £112bn, says research by Hertfordshire psychiatrist
Every year disorders of the brain, including dementia, stroke, and mental health disorders, cost the UK an estimated £112 billion, according to a new report by leading neuroscientists – including a Hertfordshire consultant psychiatrist.
The cost includes direct medical costs as well as indirect costs, such as lost production due to work absence or early retirement.
High burden and cost
Professor Naomi Fineberg, one of the lead authors of the report from the University of Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT), said: "The findings emphasise the extremely high burden and cost that brain disorders present to the UK economy. This is largely a result of their impact on lost productivity, rather than the direct cost of medical or social care.
"These costs are only likely to increase further, as the population ages, unless better treatments become available."
The cost of dementia on the social care system was found to be much higher than that for cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. The annual cost for health and social care for dementia is £10.5 billion, compared to £4.5 billion for cancer, £2.7 billion for stroke and £2.3 billion for CHD. The added cost of informal care and productivity losses brings the total to £23 billion, followed by £12 billion for cancer, £8 billion for CHD and £5 billion for stroke.
Invest in research into brain disorders
The researchers argue that investing in research into brain disorders, which will allow us to better understand, prevent and treat brain diseases, has the potential to considerably reduce the overall economic burden to society and improve patient quality of life.
"Given the cost of brain disorders, which are frequently chronic and relapsing, greater emphasis needs to be placed on prevention, early detection and early effective treatment," said Dr Fineberg.
"Despite the prevalence of disorders of the brain, there is still severe stigma. Working with charities, service-user advocacy groups and the media to reduce stigma will be important to help people with brain disorders seek early treatment and thereby improve their functional outcome and wellbeing."
The report
The report, The Size, Burden and Cost of Disorders of the Brain in the UK, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, is a collaboration between the University of Hertfordshire, University of Cambridge and Imperial College London.