What is the burden of neurological disorders associated to population aging in Brazil? ecological temporal-trend study

Population aging in Brazil has led to a significant increase in the burden of neurological disorders. This study aimed to examine the association of demographic aging with this burden. An ecological temporal-trend study. This time-series ecological study analyzed neurological disorder burden and population aging across 27 Brazilian states (1991-2023). Data from the Global Burden of Disease (IHME) and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) were used. We calculated annual percentage changes (APCs) for five neurological indicators and population aging. Prais-Winsten regression analyzed aging trends, and linear regression assessed its association with neurological disorders, adjusting for covariates. The proportion of older adults (≥60 years) in Brazil more than doubled from 6.6% in 1991 to 14.2% in 2022. Concomitantly, all indicators of neurological disorders, including mortality (a 34.6% increase) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs, a 20.5% increase), exhibited upward trends. Our findings reveal that aging is an independent predictor of worsening health indicators; each one-percentage-point increase in the elderly population was associated with a 2.9% rise in mortality and a 1.8% increase in DALYs. Population aging is a significant and independent indicator of worsening neurological health in Brazil, posing critical public health challenges that require coordinated action. It is essential to strengthen the Unified Health System (SUS) to address the demand for specialized neurological care.