On Wednesday, researchers from University College London released a study analyzing neuroscience literature to reveal how extreme heat and climate change-fueled disasters influence key neurological diseases and mental health disorders. The environmental factors not only affect the widespread of hospital admission, and diseases but also heighten the associated risk of disability and even death.
“In order to work properly, the brain has to be maintained within a relatively narrow temperature range”, said Sanjay Sisodiya, a professional at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology who led the research. He further added “If the brain has a disease, then the brain’s ability to thermoregulate is compromised. Take someone with a neurological disease and put them in an extraordinary heat wave, you can see how that could well make their neurological disease worse.”
The researchers reviewed 332 reports on 19 neurological conditions with the highest disease implications, including Alzheimer’s, dementia, migraine, depression, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, and meningitis. The results indicate that each condition responds differently, and generally higher temperatures are linked to increased widespread and worsened symptoms.
The conditions shown by individuals were difficulty in making adaptive choices like asking for help, dressing appropriately, and staying hydrated in extreme heat, as well as leading to severe strokes and epilepsy worsening by lack of sleep. Additionally, the study also shows the adverse effects of extreme cold on health. The brain’s response to a warming climate causes damage that can go undetected until far after medical intervention would be effective, said Burcin Ikiz, a neuroscientist who studies the impact of environmental patterns on the brain. She said, “Our brain goes into a stress response” that impacts cognitive health.
Climate change’s impact has been well-studied, particularly when it comes to infectious and respiratory diseases. More investigation is needed into the exact mechanism linking neurological disorders with higher temperatures. As extreme weather worsens and becomes more common, it is increasingly vital to untangle the exact relationship for the youngest, oldest and most vulnerable populations.