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