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CADTH » Priorities » Neurology

Neurology

Neurology is a medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system. These disorders present a significant medical and social challenge.

Affecting the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, neurological disorders cause difficulties with moving, thinking, speaking, swallowing, and learning. Examples of neurological disorders and diseases include the following:

  • Alzheimer disease and other dementias
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease)
  • Epilepsy
  • Migraine and headache disorders
  • Parkinson disease
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS).

Why this theme area?

The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) has selected neurology as a priority theme area for a number of reasons:

  • As Canada’s population ages, there will be an increase in neurological diseases in Canada.
  • According to a 2010 report by the Alzheimer Society, there are 500,000 Canadians with Alzheimer disease or a related dementia. This number will increase to 1.1 million within the next 30 years, and the associated costs to Canadians will rise from $15 billion to $153 billion.
  • There is significant demand from jurisdictions for information surrounding chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency therapy for MS.
  • There is a need for evidence-based guidance on new and emerging health technologies in the area of neurology.

CADTH research

In response to customer requests, most of CADTH’s completed reports in the area of neurology have been rapid assessments.

Two large projects currently underway at CADTH, one on medical isotopes and one on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are guiding the uptake of new medical imaging technologies for neurological conditions. Medical imaging technologies help with the diagnosis, monitoring, and understanding of disease processes

It is anticipated that additional imaging devices and treatments for neurological disorders and diseases will become available in the near future; therefore, there is considerable potential for further contributions by CADTH in the area. Over the coming year, CADTH will focus on developing this priority theme area by building linkages and partnerships with key stakeholders in Canada working on neurology.

The CADTH priority themes reflect the needs of Canada’s health care system. CADTH is focusing on developing products and services to support health care decision-makers within the priority themes.