Climate change can worsen neurological conditions like epilepsy, and mental health conditions, says a new study from University College London.
In a Point of View article in the journal The Lancet Neurology, study author Prof Sanjay Sisodiya and colleagues said that human-caused climate change is affecting people’s health worldwide.
The study investigated 332 pieces of research from 1968-2023 looking at climate change and various health conditions. These included neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, dementia and stroke, and psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
Prof Sisodiya said climate events affecting brain health included hot and cold temperature extremes that people are not used to, and big unseasonal temperature changes throughout the day. As well as these, pollution was also found to affect brain conditions.
“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,” he added.
The research found that in epilepsy, events like infections, temperature extremes and impaired sleep can worsen seizures.
Temperature extremes and fluctuations also worsened mental health conditions, alongside extreme weather evens like storms, flooding or wildfires.
Other conditions mentioned in the research include meningitis, multiple sclerosis and migraines.
The study authors said that data were sparse and often too broad to draw any further conclusions. They added that there is “a pressing need” for more research.
UCL and The Lancet Neurology are holding a meeting today, The Hot Brain2: climate change and brain health. This aims to raise awareness, encourage global collaborative research and promote action against climate change.
