Diseases and Disabilities
The impact of brain disease on our society is astounding. Disorders of mind and brain are the single largest source of suffering and disability in the U.S. Stroke is 5th leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the US. Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death, has a rapidly growing prevalence, and is predicted to cost $1.1 trillion annually by 2050. In addition, significant mental illness will afflict more than half of the US population at some point in life, creating enormous suffering and exacting a staggering toll on productivity (over $2.5 trillion per year). Autism spectrum disorder is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined, and is estimated to cost the U.S. $461 billion by 2025. Sixty-five million people world-wide have epilepsy and 1 in 26 people will be impacted by epilepsy in their lifetime. When you include chronic pain, vestibular, balance, and movement disorders, hearing/vision loss, and the skyrocketing rate of substance abuse, virtually every family in the U.S. is affected by disorders of the mind and brain. The UC Davis Neuroscience Consortium is dedicated to making rapid advances in preventing and treating disorders of the mind and brain and providing advanced supportive care for our patients.