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Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, migraine… Weather variations directly caused by climate change are likely to aggravate the disorders linked to these neurological pathologies. This is the conclusion of a study published this week by University College London.
What is the impact of climate change on mental health and more specifically on the nervous system? This is the question asked by the team of Sanjay Sisodiya, professor at University College London. The researchers carried out a meta-analysis bringing together 332 articles published worldwide between 1968 and 2023, relating to the potential effects of climate change on neurological diseases. “There is clear evidence of the impact of climate on certain brain diseases, particularly strokes and nervous system infections.“, underlines Professor Sisodiya in a statement.
Extreme temperatures exacerbate neurological diseases
A total of 19 neurological diseases (selected from the Global Burden of Disease 2016 study) were studied, including stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, meningitis, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. plates. Other disorders were considered, such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Published in the journal The Lancet Neurology, the research demonstrates that extreme temperatures (whether low or high) are likely to exacerbate disorders related to neurological diseases. Higher nighttime temperatures, for example, can disrupt sleep. Gold, “poor sleep worsens a number of brain conditions“, underlines the study.
Patients more sensitive to environmental changes
People with dementia are also particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods or forest fires, as “cognitive impairment may limit their ability to adapt their behavior to changes in the environment“, explain the researchers.
The authors of this work insist on the need for continued research, given the fact that the climate crisis continues to worsen. “The concept of climate anxiety is an additional, potentially heavy influence: many brain conditions are associated with a higher risk of psychiatric disorders“, underlines Professor Sisodiya. Before adding: “There are few studies estimating the health consequences of brain diseases under future climate scenarios, making long-term planning difficult.“.