Climate change is causing extreme heatwaves that are altering the way our brains work. Neurologist Sanjay Sisodiya says, “Increasingly hot summers and heatwaves are adding to the burden of living with already devastating conditions.”
Dravet Syndrome, a neurological condition, is one of many diseases exacerbated by higher temperatures. People with this disease experience seizures that can be triggered by heat and temperature changes. Jake, a 13-year-old with Dravet Syndrome, has endured countless seizures since his first at the age of five months due to extreme heat.
Heatwaves also affect people’s sleep, mood, and potentially worsen symptoms in some conditions. Hospital admissions and mortality rates among people with dementia increase during heatwaves. Rising temperatures have been linked to an increase in stroke incidents and mortality, particularly in middle- and low-income countries.
Older people and those with lower socioeconomic positions are at a higher risk for heat-related mortality. Heat may even harm the neurodevelopment of young children, leading to premature births and cognitive impairments. Climate change may also put additional strain on the brain, leaving it more vulnerable to damage that can lead to neurodegenerative diseases.
As temperatures increase, scientists are racing to understand how climate change affects our brains. They are investigating factors such as genetic susceptibility and thermo-latent phenotypes that may influence sensitivity to heat-related impacts. Identifying who is at risk and why will be crucial to developing strategies to protect the most vulnerable.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250731-how-heatwaves-affect-our-brains