The future of brain health: Acting now for improved epilepsy care

Epilepsy affects 50 million people globally and 6 million in the EU.¹ Despite this, it is a chronically underfunded and underserved condition in need of strategic investment. The latest report from Headway¹ — a survey dedicated to tracking and analysing epilepsy care in the EU — underscores the urgent funding gap across the EU in epilepsy care. At the launch of the latest report in Brussels, members of the European Parliament, advocacy and patient organizations, key industry leaders, and I discussed the current picture painted by the report, and the decisions we must make to support the European epilepsy community. 

Overcoming barriers to epilepsy care 

Epilepsy continues to be one of the most significant neurological conditions across Europe. As the fourth most common neurological disorder,² it takes a startling toll on people’s health. People with epilepsy tend to have more physical problems (such as fractures and bruising from injuries related to seizures), as well as higher rates of psychological conditions, including anxiety and depression.³ Defined as a chronic non-communicable neurological disease, epilepsy is characterized by unprovoked seizures often associated with neurobiological, cognitive and social consequences.⁴  

Despite the size of the patient population, the condition is often hidden and therefore heavily stigmatized, with such stigma contributing to a crisis of care. Nearly 40 percent of people living with epilepsy in Europe remain untreated, a figure that rises as high as 90 percent in underserved areas.⁵ Moreover, individuals with epilepsy have more than a twofold increased risk of premature death compared with the general population, and their life expectancy is reduced by approximately 10-12 years.⁶  

Epilepsy is not currently recognized in some countries as a brain disorder, and while new treatments have been coming to the EU, the scarce investment in brain health impacts access to care, which is already unequal — subject to geographic lottery, socioeconomic status and gender. Additionally, the stigma associated with epilepsy, alongside limited seizure control, significantly hinders social and economic inclusion, resulting in individuals with epilepsy feeling isolated, engaged in lower employment rates and without long-term financial security.  

Addressing these barriers is not just a healthcare imperative, but a societal one 

Embracing brain capital 

Central to the Headway report is the concept of ‘brain capital’. This framework underscores that investing in brain health, including epilepsy, is a robust economic strategy. Avoidable epilepsy-related costs are estimated to reach €49.2 billion annually within the EU27 and the U.K., which is approximately 0.28 percent of the combined GDP of the EU and the U.K.. These figures include €20.1 billion in direct costs and €29 billion in indirect costs.⁷  

The Headway report outlines three return-on-investment models that address both the human and financial costs: 

1. Closing the treatment gap by ensuring timely access to appropriate care could yield a return on investment of €1.9 for every €1 invested.^8,9,10 

2. Addressing psychiatric comorbidities, such as anxiety and depression, by integrating mental health support into standard epilepsy care can offer a return of €1.5 per €1 spent.^11,12 This intervention is critical, as mental health disorders often exacerbate the challenges faced by individuals with epilepsy. 

3. Preventing avoidable cases through public health strategies such as stroke prevention and improved perinatal care could present a return of €1.7 per €1 spent.¹³  

If national health systems across the EU and the U.K. invest €1 in each of these targeted actions and allocate a larger portion of their total national healthcare budgets to brain health services such as diagnostics testing, hospitalizations and antiseizure medications, to name a few, it’s obvious that it repays itself. It also yields an additional €0.50-€0.90 in reduced healthcare spending and increased productivity of patients and caregivers. In a climate of tight healthcare budgets and growing demand, these findings provide an evidence-based roadmap to better care and stronger systems. 

A unified approach to a healthier future 

The Headway report is a clear wake-up call for European policymakers to prioritize epilepsy as part of the broader brain health agenda. By investing in epilepsy care and engaging the public, countries will not only improve individual health outcomes but also realize substantial economic and societal benefits in both the short and long term. Moreover, they can lead the way in global best practice by scaling up proven solutions such as deploying epilepsy-specialist nurses and modernizing clinical trial regulations, especially for complex studies, to promote person-centered care and improve outcomes. 

Countries should establish dedicated additional funding for epilepsy and brain health research within the forthcoming EU Brain Health Partnership and Horizon Europe. Additionally, strengthening cross-border networks like EpiCARE and aligning with the World Health Organization’s IGAP framework will support EU member states and the U.K. in implementing effective national responses, improve access to highly specialized care and shared expertise, and knowledge from the inclusion of patient-reported indicators and real-world evidence. Epilepsy should be included as a distinct priority in the EU’s and member states’ mental health strategies with tailored indicators and goals for the best possible outcomes. 

The EU27 and the U.K. stand at a crossroads. The research we’ve done, the insights we’ve discussed in Brussels and the findings outlined clearly in the Headway report lay the foundation for a clear path to a more resilient and inclusive society, one that ensures a future where every individual living with epilepsy has the opportunity to thrive. The need now is for committed action. It is crucial that policymakers, medical and healthcare professionals, and those living with epilepsy come together to effect change, improve access to treatment and turn our vision into reality. 

1. Szaflaraski M (2014), “Social determinants of health in epilepsy”
2. TEHA on GBD 2021 Nervous System Disorders Collaborators (2024), “Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990-2021: a systemic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021,” 2025
3. World Health Organisation. Epilepsy. Signs and Symptoms. Available online here: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy. (Accessed August 2025]
4. Fisher RS, et al. Epilepsia 2014;55: 475-482
5. IBE, ILAE, WHO (2011), “Epilepsy in the WHO European Region.” and European Parliament (2011), “Proceedings of the workshop ‘Treating and living with Epilepsy’”
6. Thurman DJ et al. (2014), “The burden of premature mortality of epilepsy in high-income countries: A systematic review from the Mortality Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy”. Epilepsia.
7. TEHA on Begley C et al. (2022), “The global cost of epilepsy: A systematic review and extrapolation”, Strzelczyk et al. (2015), “Costs of epilepsy and cost‐driving factors in children, adolescents, and their caregivers in Germany”, and Willems LM et al. (2021), “Multicenter, cross-sectional study of the costs of illness andcost-driving factors in adult patients with epilepsy”, 2025
8. Kwon C et al. (2022), “The worldwide epilepsy treatment gap: A systematic review and recommendations for revised definitions – A report from the ILAE Epidemiology Commission”. Epilepsia.
9. De Zélicourt M et al. (2014), “Management of focal epilepsy in adults treated with polytherapy in France: The direct cost of drug resistance (ESPERA study)”. Seizure.
10. Willems LM et al. (2022), “Multicenter, cross-sectional study of the costs of illness and cost-driving factors in adult patients with epilepsy”. Epilepsia
11. Dewhurst E et al. (2015), “A prospective service evaluation of acceptance and commitment therapy for patients with refractory epilepsy”. Epilepsy & Behavior.
12. TEHA Group elaboration on OECD data and Fleishman JA et al. (2006), “Using the SF-12 health status measure to improve predictions of medical expenditures”. Medical Care
13. The European House of Ambrosetti and Angelini Pharma. (2025) Brain Health in Uncertain Times: A strategic investment for Europe’s future