Published Jul 31, 2026 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 31, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Migraine headaches. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: Neurologists warn that many Indians ignore early warning signs such as headaches, numbness, slurred speech and memory lapses, delaying treatment for serious neurological disorders. As hypertension, diabetes and obesity drive rising cases of stroke and dementia, experts stress that recognising symptoms early and controlling lifestyle risk factors can prevent lifelong disability.
A headache that refuses to go away. A hand that suddenly goes numb for a minute. Slurred speech that disappears before anyone thinks of calling a doctor. Many people brush off these symptoms as stress, fatigue or simply growing older. Neurologists say that, in many cases, these seemingly minor episodes are the brain’s earliest warning signs, and ignoring them can mean the difference between a full recovery and lifelong disability.
The warning comes at a time when neurological disorders are emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing health challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 3 billion people worldwide are living with a neurological condition. In India, the burden of stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and chronic headaches is rising alongside increasing rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol.
Doctors say they are not only seeing more patients with neurological disorders, but also an increasing number of younger adults presenting with conditions that were once considered diseases of old age. The trend, they say, is being fuelled by unhealthy lifestyles, delayed diagnosis and poor awareness of symptoms that require urgent medical attention.
“The rise in neurological disorders is closely linked to modifiable lifestyle-related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol,” Dr Riaz Ahamed Syed, Paediatric Neurologist at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Chennai told South First.
“We are also seeing that many patients delay seeking medical care until symptoms become severe, which can reduce treatment options and affect recovery. Identifying these conditions early and managing underlying risk factors are critical to improving long-term neurological outcomes,” he added.
For years, hypertension and diabetes have primarily been associated with heart attacks and kidney disease. Neurologists say the same conditions are quietly damaging the brain.
Apollo Spectra Hospital, Chennai, has observed a steady increase in patients presenting with stroke, persistent headaches, seizures, memory-related concerns and movement disorders. Among patients treated for stroke at the hospital, nearly 70% had uncontrolled hypertension, while another 28% had diabetes, high cholesterol or other vascular risk factors.
Dr Praveen Chander, Senior Neurologist at Gleneagles Hospital, Chennai, said lifestyle diseases have become one of the biggest contributors to neurological disorders.
“In my outpatient department, seven out of 10 stroke patients have either high blood pressure, diabetes or both. Blood pressure is the biggest one because it silently damages the small blood vessels in the brain over many years. Diabetes accelerates that damage,” he told South First.
“When smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and lack of exercise are added to the mix, it creates the perfect setup for stroke, memory problems and nerve disorders. People often feel completely normal, but inside the blood vessels are already becoming stiff and narrow. By the time symptoms appear, the damage has been building for years.”
He said the pattern has changed significantly over the past decade.
“In the last 10 to 15 years, I’ve seen far more strokes among people in their 40s and 50s. Uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, poor sleep, stress and sedentary work are all adding up.”
One of the biggest challenges, neurologists say, is that many early neurological symptoms are dismissed as stress, tiredness or ageing.
“Symptoms such as sudden weakness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, persistent headaches, seizures, tremors or unexplained memory changes should never be ignored,” said Dr S. Balamurugan, Consultant Brain and Spine Surgeon at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Chennai.
“Prompt medical evaluation can make a significant difference to treatment outcomes, particularly in neurological emergencies. Brain health deserves the same attention as heart health, and timely intervention remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the burden of neurological disorders.”
According to Dr Chander, patients frequently recount brief episodes that disappear on their own and are therefore considered harmless.
“The most common statements I hear are, ‘I just felt dizzy for a minute,’ ‘my hand went numb and then it was okay,’ ‘I had blurred vision in one eye this morning,’ or ‘I forgot words, but it passed,'” he said.
“People attribute these to stress, fatigue or ageing. But in neurology, a symptom that comes and goes is often more important than one that stays. That one minute could be a transient ischaemic attack, often called a mini-stroke, or even a seizure.”
Ignoring those warning signs can come at a heavy cost.
“If people wait, the next episode can be much bigger and leave permanent damage. The cost of waiting is often mobility, speech or independence. Whenever the brain does something unusual, even once, it deserves medical attention.”
Among all neurological emergencies, stroke remains one of the most time-sensitive.
“Time is brain,” said Dr Chander.
“Every minute we delay, millions of brain cells die. We have only a limited window in which clot-busting medicines or mechanical thrombectomy can restore blood flow and save brain function.”
However, many patients lose that opportunity because they wait at home, hoping symptoms will improve on their own.
“Families often think, ‘Let’s wait and see,’ or assume it’s just blood pressure. By the time patients reach the hospital, the treatment window has closed. Early treatment can mean the difference between someone walking out of the hospital independently and someone requiring lifelong rehabilitation.”
Neurologists are also reporting an increase in neurological disorders among younger adults.
Dr Chander said stroke, migraines, early cognitive decline and nerve disorders are becoming more common in people in their 30s and 40s.
“The reason isn’t just one factor. Sleep deprivation, long desk jobs, processed food, smoking, alcohol and poorly controlled blood pressure and diabetes all contribute. Chronic stress also plays a major role.”
“The body ages faster when it’s constantly deprived of sleep and under stress. A 35-year-old can end up with blood vessels similar to those of a 55-year-old. The brain doesn’t care what your age is on paper. It responds to how you treat it every day.”
Also Read: South India powers India’s organ transplants, but demand still far outstrips supply: Lancet study
With India’s elderly population projected to grow rapidly over the coming decades, neurologists believe the country will face an even greater burden of chronic neurological diseases.
“The next decade will bring a significant rise in people living with stroke-related disabilities, Parkinson’s disease and dementia,” Dr Chander said.
“Hospitals are becoming better at treating acute neurological emergencies, but the healthcare system is still not adequately prepared for long-term rehabilitation, memory clinics, caregiver support and home-based care.”
Without strengthening rehabilitation services and community support, he said, many families will be left to shoulder the emotional, physical and financial burden of caring for loved ones with neurological disorders.
Experts emphasise that protecting brain health does not require expensive supplements or complicated routines.
Maintaining healthy blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, getting adequate sleep and undergoing periodic health check-ups remain the most effective ways to reduce the risk of neurological disease.
“People spend money on brain games and supplements, but the real protection comes from everyday habits,” Dr Chander said.
“If you take care of your heart and blood vessels, you’re already taking care of your brain.”
He added that the most important step is not to ignore the body’s earliest warning signals.
“Brain health is not about one big treatment. It’s about small daily choices that add up over years. If we start talking about prevention today, we can reduce the burden of neurological diseases tomorrow. The brain gives us warning signs. We just need to learn to listen early.”
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
