The human brain is one of the most extraordinary organs in the body—a three-pound command center that directs our every move, thought, and feeling. It allows us to speak, solve problems, form memories, and even experience joy. The brain also regulates essential functions like breathing, heart rate, and sleep.1
When the brain is healthy, these processes flow seamlessly. But when something goes wrong, the effects ripple through every aspect of daily life, from memory lapses to sudden loss of mobility.
Why This Matters For Our Communities
For underserved communities, maintaining brain health comes with additional challenges. Access to neurologists is often limited, especially in rural areas or underfunded urban neighborhoods. Even when care is available, financial barriers or lack of insurance may delay diagnosis and treatment.2
Cultural stigma around neurological or mental health conditions adds another layer, discouraging open conversations and timely medical attention. And, too often, medical mistrust, rooted in historical inequities, makes individuals hesitant to seek care at all.2
Understanding the most common brain conditions is the first step in breaking these cycles. Here are four that deeply impact our communities:
1. Stroke
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel bursts, depriving brain tissue of oxygen. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. Symptoms can include sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, difficulty seeing, or severe dizziness.3
Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States and disproportionately affects underserved populations. Higher rates of hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, and obesity, conditions that are more common in these communities, raise the risk.3
Without immediate treatment, strokes can leave lasting impairments in movement, speech, and independence. Recognizing early warning signs and calling 911 without delay can make the difference between recovery and lifelong disability.3
2. Dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease)
Dementia is not a single disease, but a group of conditions marked by memory loss, confusion, and difficulty managing daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type, caused by abnormal changes in the brain that interfere with communication between nerve cells.4
For families, dementia is devastating, not only because of the memory decline but because of the loss of independence and personality changes that come with it. In underserved communities, dementia often goes unrecognized until late stages.4
Symptoms may be written off as “just aging,” while missed opportunities for early intervention leave families without guidance or support. Studies show that Black and Latino adults are more likely to develop dementia, yet less likely to receive timely diagnosis or access to memory care services.4
We can change this narrative by building a future where timely diagnosis and support are available to everyone. It starts with us: sharing information, speaking up for our loved ones, and creating supportive networks within our communities.
3. Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder defined by recurrent seizures, which can range from dramatic convulsions to subtle lapses in awareness. The unpredictability of seizures creates fear, stigma, and barriers to employment and education.5
In many underserved communities, myths about epilepsy persist, sometimes leading to social isolation for those living with the condition. Limited access to neurologists means epilepsy is frequently misdiagnosed or undertreated, leaving people at risk for preventable seizures.5
With appropriate medication and lifestyle support, most people with epilepsy can live full and safe lives, but only if the condition is recognized and managed.5
4. Chronic Migraine
Migraines are not “just headaches”. They are a neurological condition that can involve intense head pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and even temporary vision changes. For people with chronic migraine, these episodes occur more than 15 days per month, disrupting work, family life, and mental health.6
Unfortunately, migraines are often dismissed, especially when reported by women or people of color.6 This minimization leads many to suffer in silence, self-treat with over-the-counter medications, or miss out on effective therapies that could drastically improve quality of life.6
Raising awareness that migraine is a legitimate brain condition, not a character flaw or a weakness, is essential to the health and well-being of our communities.
Protecting Brain Health in Our Communities
Brain conditions affect millions of people across the country, and underserved communities face unique risks that amplify their impact. Too often, symptoms are missed, ignored, or misdiagnosed until it is too late for the most effective interventions.
By breaking the silence around brain health, encouraging regular checkups, and pushing for equitable access to specialists, we can change these outcomes. Our brains are too vital to ignore. Early recognition, timely treatment, and community support can protect not only our health but also our independence and quality of life.
References
- NIH. (2025, February 25). Brain Basics: Know Your Brain. Retrieved from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke : https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-know-your-brain
- Morris, E. P., Turney, I. C., Palms, J. D., Zaheed, A. B., Sol, K., Amarante, E., . . . Zahodne, L. B. (2024). Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Relationship between Financial Worry and White Matter Hyperintensities in Latinx, Non-Latinx Black, and Non-Latinx White Older Adults. Neurobiology of Aging. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.05.008
- Hsia, R. Y., Sarkar, N., & Shen, Y.-C. (2024). Provision of Stroke Care Services by Community Disadvantage Status in the US, 2009-2022. JAMA Network Open. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21010
- Dintica, C. S., Bahorik, A., & Xia, F. (2023). Dementia Risk and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods. JAMA Neurology. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.2120
- Kiriakopoulos, E. T., Sosa, R. G., Blank, L., Johnson, E. L., & Gutierrez, C. (2024). Shining a Light: Advancing Health Equity in Overlooked Epilepsy Communities. Epilepsy Currents. doi: 10.1177/15357597241258081
- Najib, U., Moore, M., & Watson, D. (2019). Unique Considerations for Special Populations in Episodic Migraine: the Underserved. Current Pain and Headache Reports. doi:10.1007/s11916-019-0749-1
