Table of Contents
The impact of climate change on weather patterns and adverse weather events is projected to have a detrimental effect on the health of individuals with brain conditions, as argued by a group of researchers led by UCL.
In an article published in The Lancet Neurology, the team stresses the critical importance of comprehending how climate change affects those with neurological conditions to safeguard their well-being and address growing disparities.
After analyzing 332 papers published worldwide from 1968 to 2023, the team, spearheaded by Professor Sanjay Sisodiya (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), anticipates significant implications of climate change on neurological diseases.
19 different nervous system can be affected
The researchers examined 19 distinct nervous system disorders, selected based on the findings of the Global Burden of Diseases 2016 study. These conditions encompassed stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s, meningitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.
Moreover, the team conducted an analysis on the influence of climate change on various severe yet prevalent psychiatric illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
Professor Sisodiya, who serves as the Director of Genomic at Epilepsy Society and is a founding member of Epilepsy Climate Change, emphasized the significant impact of climate on certain brain disorders, particularly stroke and nervous system infection.
The researchers revealed that climatic fluctuations, such as extreme temperatures (both high or low) and increased temperature variations throughout the day, especially during atypical seasons, had notable effects on brain diseases. Notably, nighttime temperatures were highlighted as crucial, as elevated temperatures during the night disrupt sleep patterns, which are known to exacerbate various brain conditions.
Extreme changes in temperature can affect the brain?
The researchers discovered that higher ambient temperatures or heat waves results in a rise in admissions, disability or mortality due to stroke.
Meanwhile, the team asserts that individual with dementia are vulnerable to harm caused by extreme temperatures (such as health-related illness or hypothermia) and weather events (such as flooding or wildfires) due to their cognitive impairment, which limits their ability to adapt to environmental changes.
They explain that this susceptibility is further exacerbated by factors like reduced risk awareness, limited capacity to seek help or mitigate harm, and the effects of frailty, multimorbidity, and psychotropic medications. Consequently, greater temperature variations, hotter days, and heatwaves contribute to an increase in hospital admission and mortality associated with dementia.
Furthermore, the incidence, hospital admission and mortality risk for various mental health disorders are linked to higher ambient temperatures, daily temperature fluctuations or extreme hot and cold temperature.
Adverse climate changes can increase the severity of brain disease…
The researchers emphasize that with the increasing severity of adverse weather events and rise in global temperature, populations are being exposed to environmental factors that were not previously considered severe enough to impact brain conditions in earlier studies. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that research remains up to date and takes into account not only the current state of climate change but also future projections.
Professor Sisodiya stated, “This research is being conducted amidst a concerning deterioration of climatic conditions, and it must remain adaptable and dynamic in order to provide valuable information for individuals and organizations.”
Furthermore, there are limited studies that estimate the health consequences of brain diseases under future climate scenarios, which makes it challenging to plan ahead.
He further added, “The concept of climate anxiety adds an additional, potentially significant, factor. Many brain conditions are associated with a higher risk of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety. These comorbidities can further complicate the impacts of climate change and the necessary adaptation to maintain good health. However, there are actions that we can and should take at present.”
