Brain disorders such as depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, autism and Alzheimer’s disease affect nearly half the world’s population, robbing millions of individuals and their families of the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.
More than 50 million Americans experienced a brain disorder within the past year, causing tremendous suffering for individuals and families. These disorders cost the U.S. more than $1.5 trillion annually in healthcare, disability and social services, and they are a leading cause of lost productivity in the workforce. They are also among the leading causes of death worldwide. In the United States alone, every five minutes, someone dies from suicide or a drug overdose.
But there is hope. Advances in neurosciences, genetics, computer science, engineering, brain imaging, psychiatry, psychology, neurology and rehabilitation medicine are allowing us to better detect brain health problems early on. New tools and technologies are helping us engage patients and families in prevention and treatment programs that can substantially improve people’s lives.
The Garvey Institute supports a dynamic community of clinicians and researchers in tackling one of the biggest challenges of our generation — the personal, medical and societal burden of brain disorders — by accelerating access to effective prevention and treatment.