Gaby
The ongoing climate crisis is exposing humanity to various dangers. Unfortunately, those who have contributed the least to global warming often face its harshest consequences. Recently, scientists have increasingly discussed the impact of climate change on brain health.
A team from University College London analyzed 332 scientific articles published between 1968 and 2023. The results indicated that the potential negative impact of climate change on human brain health will be significant, as reported by IFLScience.
The researchers focused on 19 neurological disorders, including stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, meningitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. They also examined common mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
What Scientists Discovered
“Until now, there has been little research assessing the consequences of future climate scenarios on brain health,” noted Professor Sanjay Sisodia, who led the team.
Weather changes caused by the climate crisis, extreme heatwaves, and freezing temperatures are risk factors for brain health, the researchers pointed out. The team found that the incidence, hospitalization, and mortality risk from many mental disorders are linked to increased environmental temperatures, daily temperature fluctuations, as well as extreme high and low temperatures.
“We have clear evidence of the climate’s impact on brain diseases, particularly on stroke and neuroinfections,” stated Professor Sisodia.
According to him, extreme temperatures and significant temperature variations throughout the day are extremely dangerous. In particular, excessively high nighttime temperatures can disrupt sleep. Poor sleep is a known contributor to a range of brain diseases.
There is also cause for concern that individuals with mental or neurological disorders may lack access to medical care if environmental conditions worsen. This is especially true for those suffering from dementia.
The current state of the climate crisis is quite alarming. Moreover, the situation is only expected to worsen in the future if countries do not take action against global warming.
The findings of the study were published in the journal Lancet Neurology.
