Climate change poses growing threat to neurological health, new review warns

Climate change poses an increasing threat to our neurological health, according to a review study led by UCL researchers.

The Perspective article, published in Nature Reviews Neurology, explores how rising temperatures and environmental changes are impacting brain function, particularly in relation to sleep, stroke and epilepsy.

Sleep is crucial for neurological and mental health, but extreme temperatures can disrupt sleep patterns. The researchers state that exploring these complex relationships will be crucial to bolster resilience to climate change and to help minimise the risk of developing neurological conditions associated with poor sleep and circadian disturbance.

The article highlights that certain types of stroke are likely influenced differently by extreme and unseasonal temperatures. For example, exposure to hotter temperatures results in increased cutaneous blood flow and sweating and can lead to increased heart rate and cardiovascular strain, which, for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, can be life-threatening. The researchers call for further studies to determine the effects of climate change on different types of stroke to give a fuller picture of the effect of extreme weather.

Extreme heat and cold have both been linked to increased hospitalisation rates in children with epilepsy. The study refers to sizeable surveys of people living with epilepsy which indicate that people are more likely to have a seizure during a heatwave. The study suggests that sleep deprivation, which is more likely to occur during hot weather, is an important trigger for seizures in many individuals and is recognised to activate interictal epileptiform discharges.

Professor Sanjay Sisodiya (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) said: “Epilepsy and stroke, like most human diseases, are incredibly complicated when we get down to details, both in terms of disease biology and in terms of day-to-day impacts. When we start to change the very environment within which we are living and operating, then we risk also changing many aspects of disease biology, potentially rendering our current understanding wanting and compromising progress in treating these, and other conditions.”

The Perspective article states that more detailed research is needed to capture the complex effects of climate change and its consequences. This information could help inform the World Health Organization’s global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders, which currently doesn't mention climate change.

The article also found that the burden of neurological diseases is unequally distributed, with low-income countries being disproportionately affected due to inadequate infrastructure to shield from extreme weather and poorer healthcare access.

The researchers conclude that senior neurological clinicians and neuroscientists should create an  inclusive discussion environment that permits and promotes conversations about the neurological impact of climate change in a professional context, encouraging junior clinicians and early career researchers to participate.

Image credit: Pexels

Related

• Nature Reviews Neurology
• Professor Sanjay Sisodiya's academic profile