Brain disorders spark costs alert

Researchers warn of a financial “ticking timebomb” across Europe, with one in three people in 2010 suffering brain disorders or caring for somebody with one, a figure that is increasing.

In the UK, 9.7 million people are thought to have brain disorders, costing more than 134 billion euro (about £116bn) a year.

Overall, almost £689bn is now spent across Europe every year dealing with these disorders.

Experts examined 30 countries and 19 groups of disorders, including anxiety disorders, addictions, brain tumours, childhood and adolescent developmental disorders, dementia, eating disorders, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, sleep disorders, stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Reporting their findings in the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology, they said mood disorders are thought to be most costly, at more than £97bn each year, with 33.3 million sufferers.

Dementia is second at just over £90bn, with more than £76bn of that coming from costs such as social care – and the numbers will increase as people live longer.