The unfolding climate crisis puts humanity in danger – and usually, the ones who have contributed the least to it face the harshest consequences. The health impacts of the crisis have become more and more evident, and it seems that conditions that affect the brain are likely to be affected by the changing climate as well.
Researchers behind a new study conducted a review of 332 papers from 1968 to 2023. Their work shows that the likely negative impact of climate change on neurological health is expected to be substantial. They considered 19 nervous conditions including stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s, meningitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. They also looked at common psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
Weather changes induced by the climate crisis, more extreme events such as heat waves, and frost spells accentuate the risk factors and characteristics that make those conditions so dangerous. They found that incidence, hospital admissions, and mortality risk for many mental health disorders seem to be associated with increased ambient temperature, daily fluctuations in temperature, or extreme hot and cold temperatures.
“There is clear evidence for an impact of the climate on some brain conditions, especially stroke and infections of the nervous system,” lead author Professor Sanjay Sisodiya, from University College London, said in a statement.
“The climatic variation that was shown to have an effect on brain diseases included extremes of temperature (both low and high), and greater temperature variation throughout the course of day – especially when these measures were seasonally unusual. Nighttime temperatures may be particularly important, as higher temperatures through the night can disrupt sleep. Poor sleep is known to aggravate a number of brain conditions.”
Another factor of concern is that people with mental or neurological conditions might not have adequate support and may have reduced capabilities to seek help in worsening environmental conditions. This is particularly true in people with dementia.
The team stresses the importance of keeping the work up to date. The present state of the climate crisis is concerning enough, and the future might look significantly worse if political leaders do not take a decisive stand.
“This work is taking place against a worrying worsening of climatic conditions and it will need to remain agile and dynamic if it is to generate information that is of use to both individuals and organisations,” Professor Sisodiya added. “Moreover, there are few studies estimating health consequences on brain diseases under future climate scenarios, making forward planning challenging.”
“The whole concept of climate anxiety is an added, potentially weighty, influence: many brain conditions are associated with higher risk of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, and such multimorbidities can further complicate impacts of climate change and the adaptations necessary to preserve health. But there are actions we can and should take now.”
The paper is published in the journal Lancet Neurology.
Source Link: The Climate Crisis Might Have A Substantial Impact On Many Brain Conditions
