Report by the University College London (UCL) Research Team
A study has found that global warming may lead to the spread and worsening of brain diseases such as dementia, epilepsy, and depression.
According to Yonhap News Agency, citing Bloomberg, a research team from University College London (UCL) reported on the 15th (local time). The report concluded that environmental factors not only affect disease prevalence but also increase the risks of hospitalization, disability, and death.
According to the researchers, as climate change causes more frequent extreme weather events such as heatwaves, neurological and mental disorders have become more common and their symptoms have worsened. Since neurological disorders often accompany mental illnesses, the researchers also analyzed data investigating depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
To this end, the research team analyzed 332 papers examining the environmental impact on 19 neurological disorders. The results showed that hot weather is more likely to lead to fatal or disabling strokes and causes sleep deprivation, which also affects epilepsy.
Professor Sanjay Sisodiya, who led the study, explained, "For normal functioning, the brain needs to be maintained within a relatively narrow temperature range." He added, "When there is a brain disease, the ability to regulate body temperature is impaired," and "exposing patients with neurological disorders to extreme heatwaves can worsen their symptoms." However, he noted that more research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms by which high temperatures cause the onset and worsening of neurological disorders.
According to the analysis by the research team, patients with dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, had more difficulty adapting to environmental changes such as seeking help, wearing lighter clothing, or drinking more water when exposed to extreme heatwaves.
(This photo is not directly related to the article.) A parking attendant in Manila, Philippines, wearing a towel to shield from the sun Photo by AP / Yonhap News
Vercin Ikiz, a neuroscientist and founder and chair of the International NeuroClimate Working Group, warned, "Damage caused by the brain's response to climate warming may remain hidden until it reaches a state where medical treatment is ineffective."
He added, "The human brain shows a stress response when the temperature rises, which can lead to inflammation or various problems affecting cognitive health."
Meanwhile, recently, United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres emphasized the urgency of action on the climate crisis, warning, "'The era of global warming' is over. Now, 'the era of a boiling planet' has begun." In fact, the global average temperature in February this year was 1.77 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial period, marking the highest average February temperature on record.
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