How climate change can worsen dementia and depression

Extreme temperatures and climate change are increasingly linked to negative impacts on mental health, exacerbating conditions like dementia, depression, and epilepsy, according to a new study published in The Lancet Neurology. The research, led by Professor Sanjay Sisodiya, director of genomics at University College London’s epilepsy society, highlights the complex relationship between climate and neurological disorders, urging action to address these issues.

The researchers found “clear evidence for an impact of the climate on some brain conditions, especially stroke and infections of the nervous system”.

“The climatic variation that was shown to have an effect on brain diseases included extremes of temperature, both low and high, and greater temperature variation throughout the course of day, especially when these measures were seasonally unusual,” Sisodiya said.

What does the study say?

The study reveals that as temperatures rise, the risks associated with neurological and mental health disorders increase. Patients with dementia, in particular, face heightened vulnerabilities to extreme temperatures due to cognitive impairment, limiting their ability to adapt to environmental changes.

The risk of mortality from stroke and dementia also rises with higher temperatures, while both hot and cold extremes are associated with a greater risk of mortality for many mental health disorders like depression.

The researchers also suggest that various factors, including pollution, increased humidity, and reduced exposure to sunshine, can impact mental health disorders. Additionally, they note that neurological disorders and their treatments can make it more challenging for the body to adjust to fluctuating temperatures.

“In order to work properly, the brain has to be maintained within a relatively narrow temperature range,” said Sisodiya. “If the brain has a disease, then the brain’s ability to thermoregulate is compromised. Take someone with a neurological disease and put them in an extraordinary heat wave, you can see how that could well make their neurological disease worse.”

The researchers observed a rise in hospital admissions, disabilities, or mortality from stroke during periods of higher ambient temperatures or heatwaves.

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Recent weeks have seen Asia experiencing severe heatwaves , which scientists attribute to the climate crisis. April of this year was recorded as the hottest on record, with a study indicating that 2023 was the hottest year ever, and last summer was the hottest in 2,000 years . Studies have also indicated that the body’s temperature needs to decrease slightly for a person to fall asleep.

“Poor sleep is known to aggravate a number of brain conditions,” Sisodiya said.

Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay

Researchers found a significant increase in hospitalisations related to dementia, migraines, several mental health disorders, and multiple sclerosis as temperatures rise.

Dr. Burcin Ikiz, a neuroscientist and founder of the International Neuro Climate Working Group, highlighted the potential consequences of climate change on brain health, saying, “What scares me most about this scenario is that by 2050, not only will we see an explosion of people with neurological disorders, but it will happen in our 40s and 50s instead of 70s and 80s because our brains are bombarded by different stresses like heat, pollution and microplastics.”

What can be done to tackle this issue?

The study highlights the need for patients with these disorders to adopt new behaviors to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as staying hydrated, avoiding exercise in hot weather, and using additional treatments.

The researchers emphasise the need for more studies to understand the exact mechanisms linking neurological disorders with higher temperatures. They also call for policy interventions to mitigate the economic toll climate change will take on individuals and public health systems, especially in poorer countries.

A 2022 World Health Organisation (WHO) policy brief recommends five important approaches for governments to address the mental health impacts of climate change:

• integrate climate considerations with mental health programmes;

• integrate mental health support with climate action;

• build upon global commitments;

• develop community-based approaches to reduce vulnerabilities; and

• close the large funding gap that exists for mental health and psychosocial support.

“We need to stop burning fossil fuels, stop putting emissions into the air,” Sisodiya said. “But beyond that, we can make sure that the weather alerts are appropriate, are informative, that people can act on them and know to take simple measures like staying out of the sun during the peak hours of exposure, keeping windows or shutters closed, using things to keep cool and hydrated, [and having] an adequate supply of medication.”

The burden of climate anxiety

Climate change not only impacts neurological and mental health directly but also contributes to the rise of climate anxiety, particularly among children and young adults. The fear of climate change and its impacts can exacerbate existing mental health conditions, making it challenging for individuals to cope with the effects of climate change.

There is no clinical diagnosis for these experiences, but several attempts have been made to describe them using new terms. These include:

• Solastalgia: The inability to find solace in a familiar landscape due to environmental degradation.

• Ecological grief: The sense of loss that emerges from experiencing environmental degradation.

• Climate anxiety: A feeling of anxiety in response to climate change.

A large Lancet study involving 10,000 children and young people across 10 countries found that 45% of respondents reported that their feelings about climate change had a negative impact on their daily functioning. Another study found that negative emotions related to climate change were linked to more symptoms of insomnia and poor mental health.

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As the world faces record-breaking temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events, it is crucial to address the impact of climate change on mental health. Urgent action is needed to protect vulnerable populations and mitigate the effects of climate change on neurological and mental health disorders.

With inputs from agencies