Neurological conditions affect more than 40% of global population, and other health stories

At this year's Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils in Dubai, the Centre for Health and Healthcare led conversations that challenged how we value and protect human health.

In a session titled The Cost of Underinvesting in Health, experts including Alison Holmes, Amit Bouri, Damiano de Felice, Mina Al-Oraibi and Maha Taysir Barakat unpacked a stubborn paradox: every dollar invested in health can yield four in economic return, yet the world continues to underfund its most vital systems. The session discussed the growing costs of inaction —from antimicrobial resistance and air pollution to digital health gaps — and asked how societies can rebalance their priorities.

In another session on Neurotechnology, Striking the Right Balance, Nita Farahany and Thomas Oxley took audiences on a visual and intellectual journey through the promises and perils of neurotechnology. Beyond healing disease, these tools could redefine human cognition and freedom, but only if developed safely, equitably, and in the service of human flourishing.

Neurological conditions affect more than 40% of the global population, which is around 3 billion people, a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has found.

Stroke, migraine, meningitis, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are a few examples of the types of neurological disorders that are responsible for over 11 million deaths globally each year. Despite this, fewer than one in three countries around the world has a national policy to address this issue.

The report found that just 32% of WHO Member States have a national policy addressing neurological disorders, and only 18% report having dedicated funding to address them, as the chart below explores.

The report highlights the issues holding back patients from better healthcare, from a lack of qualified health professionals to underfunding of research. It outlines a clear roadmap to address this growing issue:

Up to 50% of vaccines produced around the world are wasted due to failures in the cold chain, according to the WHO.

A new heat-sensitive label, developed by the University of Surrey, could be about to change that.

These 'vaccine vial monitors' (VVMs) are labels that show whether vaccines or other medicines have been exposed to temperatures that make them unsafe or ineffective.

This low-cost label responds to temperature changes over time, which could transform the effectiveness of vaccine distribution around the world.

"Our low-cost, scalable approach will help ensure more vaccines reach those who need them most - safely and effectively," said Dr Izabela Jurewicz, Lecturer in Soft Matter.

The new VVMs will now undergo WHO testing, and if approved, can be brought to market.

HIV protection jab: An injection to prevent HIV is now being offered to NHS patients in England and Wales. This shot, given six times a year, is an alternative to taking daily pills. "For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope," said Wes Streeting, the UK's Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

AI dementia detection: In a UK first, AI is being used to detect dementia by analyzing blood test results. The study is being conducted on 1,000 patients by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, in south-east Wales.

Digitizing Africa's health systems: The WHO and the EU have announced a new agreement to support the digital transformation of health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. The agreement includes a $9.28 million grant from the EU from 2025 to 2028, combined with technical and policy expertise from the WHO and regional support from African partners.

Antibiotic resistance: One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments, a new WHO report has found. Between 2018 and 2023, an average annual increase of 5-15% in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was recorded.

Breast cancer drug: Datroway, a new breast cancer drug developed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, has helped significantly extend survival in some patients in a late-stage trial. The drug caused a 43% reduction in patients' risk of disease progression or death, in a trial of 644 people.

Prostate cancer treatment: Novartis' targeted radiotherapy treatment Pluvicto has reduced the risk of progression or death in prostate cancer patients by 28%, in a trial. “These results reinforce the potential for Pluvicto, a radioligand therapy that delivers treatment directly to target cells, to change how we treat metastatic prostate cancer,” said Shreeram Aradhye, President, Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR): This problem contributes to more than 4.5 million deaths every year and a huge economic cost. Anticipatory governance can help turn the tide, as it emphasizes foresight, inclusiveness and adaptive policies to address risks before they escalate to insurmountable crises. Deepali Patel, the AMR Action Fund's Director, breaks down how this approach can break the cycle and improve outcomes, in this article.

Precision therapies in Asia-Pacific: Advances in advanced genomics and data science are helping to usher in an era of precision medicine. We can now tailor treatments to patients’ own genetic make-up, potentially unlocking cures and extending lifespans. For the Asia-Pacific region, this new era could not arrive at a more pressing time, Naomi Sakurai, Cancer Solutions' President, explores why in this blog.

Generative AI in life sciences: Biology and computation are converging, with generative AI emerging as one of the most powerful catalysts accelerating progress in life sciences. Here's how:

Learn more in this article from Qing Zhang and Matthew Chang.