Evidence of Rising Neurological Mortality and Examining Multiple-Interactive Environmental Causes in the 21stCentury

Abstract

Aims: To examine whether increased neurological deaths during 21st Century are predominately due to elderly demographics, or major influences of interactive-multiple environmental contributory factors? We examine WHO Early-Adult-Deaths (55-74yearolds), which is below Western life-expectancy, and total Age-Standardised-Death-Rates (ASDR) controlled by age, sex, and population, to challenge the demographic assumption. Method. Based upon WHO latest global neurological mortality categories, Nervous-Disease-Deaths and Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias, which provides the Combined Neurological Death, rates per million (pm), for the twenty-one West-Developed-Nations (WDN) over the period. Early-Adult-Death rates based upon numbers of deaths, divided by 55-74 population and WHO total ASDR during the 21st Century. Increases between Over 75’s population and Over 75’s neurological mortality is compared using Odds Ratios. Numbers of deaths are indicative of family and services pressures. Results: Every country’s 55-74yearolds Nervous-Disease-Deaths rates were higher than Alzheimer’s & Dementia Deaths, ten countries Nervous-Disease-Deaths rose higher than Alzheimer’s & Dementias during Century. Highest Combined Deaths and increases were Finland 1006 per million (pm) up 44%, USA 710pm, rose 39% and UK 653pm a rise of 32%, countries average of 25%, though Belgium, Canada and France rates fell. Highest ASDR were Finland 973pm, up 104%, USA 592pm, rose 76%, UK 553pm, increase 170%. Lowest were Japan 112pm, yet up 90%, Greece 184pm, rose 64% and Austria 214pm increased 102%, average nation’s 62%. Belgium at 387pm up 34%, Canada 401pm, increased 13% and France ASDR 336pm up 11%. Population compared with total neurological amongst Early-Adult-Deaths and Over 75’s, ratios of change, were respectively 1:1.34 and 1:2.21, yielding an Odds ratios of 1:1.65 French total neurological numbers were 40,594 rose to 71,543, up 76%, UK 24,601 to 103,550 increased 321% and the USA 174,708 to 436,438 rising 150%. Discussion: We reject the hypothesis that neurological increases were mainly dues to demographics. Our results support by new studies across the continents, with their findings of significant causal multiple-interactive-environmental pollutants, including, endocrine disruptive chemicals, air pollution, organophosphates, plastics, petrochemicals, impact of low ubiquitous prolonged electro-magnetism, etc, associated with neuro-degenerative disease, especially Early-Onset-Dementia, below Western life-expectancy. Conclusions: Governments should seek urgent research to explain this new epidemic.