Definitions and Descriptions

Health disparities exist across every specialty within medicine. Neurology is not immune to these inequities. This chapter provides an introduction to health equity and health disparities research in neurology. Key concepts, including health disparities, inequalities vs. inequities, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, ableism, and the social determinants of health, are defined. We then explore disparities that exist within vulnerable patient populations and across subspecialities in neurology, providing a foundation for future chapters. The last section of this chapter provides a framework for addressing health disparities. As the field of neurology has grown and there has been an increase in availability of treatments and cures for once disabling diseases, there are also more opportunities for disparities to exist. By identifying and providing context for these disparities, neurologists can work toward mitigating health disparities, providing equitable care, and developing sustainable solutions.