The little-known link between climate change and brain health
Extreme temperatures have a serious impact on the health and daily lives of those with conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and dementia.
PARIS: The link between brain health and climate disruption was recently highlighted in a 16-minute mini-documentary shared online last month by FutureNeuro @ the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science, based in the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Produced in partnership with the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the film explains that over three billion people worldwide are living with neurological disorders.
Research has already established a link between rising temperatures and an exacerbation of the symptoms of certain neurological diseases sensitive to temperature variations.
This is the case, for example, with Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of childhood epilepsy, in which a sudden rise in temperature is likely to lead to more frequent seizures, as well as altered brain function.
Professor Sanjay Sisodiya, chair of the ILAE Climate Change Commission, explained: “The brain is key to our response to challenges from our surroundings, and many parts of the brain are sensitive to the temperature at which they have to work.
“As a result, if the brain is already affected by disease, it may be more vulnerable to the challenges posed by the effects of climate change.
“As climate change continues to worsen, it is essential that we pay attention to its effects on people with neurological conditions all around the world.”
The professor of neurology at University College London is also the author of a study published in 2024 in The Lancet Neurology, which shows that extreme temperatures – whether low or high – are likely to exacerbate disorders linked to 19 neurological diseases, including dementia, epilepsy and migraine.
Through patient testimonials, the documentary highlights the difficulties people with neurological pathologies can encounter on a daily basis, such as the inability to leave the house in the event of a heatwave and the social isolation that can ensue.
Extreme temperatures can also disrupt medical supply chains, damaging cold-stored medicines and hindering access to healthcare.
As ILAE president J Helen Cross notes: “Climate change is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, and its impact on people with epilepsy and other neurological conditions is becoming increasingly clear.
“This film is a powerful step towards placing neurological health firmly within the climate conversation.”
Beyond its primary aim of raising awareness for a phenomenon of which many people are still largely unaware, the documentary aims to encourage the funding and development of more advanced scientific research on the subject.
One way to better understand the link between brain health and rising temperatures linked to climate change is to capitalise on imaging and genetic technologies, including AI-driven predictive models to identify at-risk populations and develop targeted interventions.
“New imaging and genetic technologies allow us to learn more about the brain’s temperature control systems, and how this is altered in conditions such as epilepsy,” said FutureNeuro director David Henshall, a professor of molecular physiology and neuroscience at RCSI.
“Understanding these mechanisms could open the door to new treatments or preventative strategies, helping to reduce the impact of heat on seizure risk.”