TL/DR –

Climate change is messing with our brains and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Severe temps and stormy weather are cramping our brains’ style, causing a hike in hospital visits and even mortality rates. Heatwaves and hurricanes are more than just a hot mess, they’re a call to action—we need to protect those with neurological and psychiatric disorders from climate change ASAP!

Climate Change’s Impact on Brain Health

Climate change’s rising temperatures and extreme weather events are causing serious concerns for individuals with brain conditions. These changes can worsen neurological and psychiatric disorders, leading to increased hospitalizations and mortality.

Experts are calling for immediate action to protect these vulnerable groups and minimize climate change’s effects on brain health. Here are the key takeaways:

• Climate change negatively affects various brain conditions.
• Extreme weather events can intensify symptoms and increase mortality.
• Immediate action is required to shield those with brain conditions from climate change’s effects.

Climate Change and Its Effect on Neurological Conditions

A research team led by UCL warns that climate change’s adverse effects can potentially harm the health of people with brain disorders. In a review of 332 papers published worldwide from 1968 to 2023, the team emphasizes the dire need to understand climate change’s impact on people with neurological conditions to protect their health and prevent worsening health disparities.

The Study’s Findings

The researchers took into account 19 different nervous system conditions, including stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s, meningitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. They also examined the effects of climate change on several severe but common psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

Among the key findings, the researchers discovered that extreme temperature variations, especially those out of season, affected brain diseases. Increased nighttime temperatures, in particular, could disrupt sleep, which is known to aggravate a number of brain conditions.

They also found that dementia patients are vulnerable to harm from temperature extremes and weather events, as cognitive impairments can limit their ability to adjust their behavior to environmental changes. Furthermore, the risk of many mental health disorders is associated with increased ambient temperature, daily fluctuations in temperature, or extreme hot and cold temperatures.

The Need for Ongoing Research and Action

The research highlighted the importance of ongoing, up-to-date studies that take into consideration not just the current state of climate change but also its future implications. As global temperatures rise and adverse weather events intensify, it’s crucial to remain agile and dynamic in generating useful information for individuals and organizations.

Ahead of the event “The Hot Brain 2: Climate Change and Brain Health,” organized by UCL and The Lancet Neurology, there’s a call to raise awareness about climate change risks for brain and neurological healthcare, foster global research collaborations, and take action against climate change while promoting adaptation strategies.

The research was supported by the Epilepsy Society and the National Brain Appeal Innovation Fund.

Original Story at neurosciencenews.com