Climate change has and will have many effects on the health of populations. American researchers demonstrate, in a new study review, its impact on brain health and the increase in neurological diseases.
- Extreme weather events and temperature variations show a link with the incidence and worsening of strokes, migraines, hospitalization of patients with dementia and MS symptoms, according to this new review. study.
- In addition, global warming accentuates the number of infections transmitted by ticks or mosquitoes causing neurological diseases.
- Finally, air pollution increases the rate and severity of cerebrovascular diseases.
According to one new study review published in the journal neurologycarried out by researchers from the American Academy of Neurology, global warming is causing an increase in neurological diseases, ranging from chronic migraines to Alzheimer’s disease.
People with Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) are also affected by a worsening of their symptoms, particularly due to air pollution. Indeed, exposure to atmospheric pollutants, in particular nitrates and particles called “PM 2.5” released in particular by car exhaust gases, has increased the risk of stroke, headaches, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Global warming: more frequent strokes
Additionally, strokes may also become more common with rising temperatures.
Finally, because of climate change, parasites carrying diseases that affect the brain are spreading more. Climate change has extended favorable conditions for emerging neuro-infectious diseases such as West Nile virus, meningococcal meningitis and tick-borne encephalitis (animal and insect-borne diseases) beyond the usual geographic areas .
“As we witness the effects of global warming on human health, it is imperative that neurologists anticipate how neurological diseases may change”said one of the study review authors, Dr. Andrew Dhawan, of the Cleveland Clinic, in a communicated.
Impacts can be even more severe in poor areas
To arrive at these results, he and his colleagues combed through 364 previously published studies on pollution, climate change, extreme temperatures and neurological diseases between 1990 and 2022. The team of American researchers note that their results only apply to rich and developed countries. The impacts can be even more severe in poorer parts of the world. Also, only the effects on adults have been studied, not those on children.
“Climate change poses many challenges to humanity, some of which are not well studied”regrets Andrew Dhawan. “Further studies are needed on ways to reduce the transmission of neuro-infectious diseases, how air pollution affects the nervous system, and how to improve the delivery of neurological care in the face of climate-related disruptions.”he says.
