A newly commissioned white paper on the burden of cost of brain disorders in Australia reports the staggering economic burden associated with neurological, mental health and substance use disorders is in excess of $74 billion.

Stroke Foundation has welcomed the launch of a comprehensive research effort to tackle stroke and heart disease, with the Federal Government launching a $220 million 10-year mission for cardiovascular health.

“Have you got insurance?” It is the first question faced by any patient walking into a hospital emergency room in the United States and is seen as emblematic of a health system that does not serve those who cannot pay. So why is this question being raised, with increasing frequency, in the emergency rooms and hospital wards of Australia’s highly regarded medical system?

Dementia rates among older Australians are falling, sparking suggestions that measures aimed at improving the physical health of older people may also be having positive cognitive effects.