Mental Health Week: Climate change appears to make anxiety and brain conditions worse

Climate change makes brain conditions like migraine or psychiatric disorders like anxiety worse, a review has shown. Why is this?

Migraines are worsened by temperature extremes and the effects of climate change.
Migraines are worsened by temperature extremes and the effects of climate change.

Mental Health Awareness Week runs between 13 to 19 May this year, 2024, shared by the Mental Health Association in the UK. At the time of writing, we are drawing closer to the end of that week, during which efforts have been made to increase awareness of topics like anxiety and depression which affect large numbers of the population.

Yet, less in the media is heard about is the connection between climate change and mental or neurological health. Researchers from University College London recently reviewed over 300 papers published across the world, concluding the effects of climate change on neurological diseases are significant.

Impacts are substantial for nervous system conditions, such as migraine, Alzheimer’s epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia are also affected.

Professor Sisodiya, who is also Director of Genomics at the Epilepsy Society and a founding member of Epilepsy Climate Change, said: “There is clear evidence for an impact of the climate on some brain conditions, especially stroke and infections of the nervous system."

Stroke was shown to worsen during heatwaves or generally higher ambient temperatures, since stroke related admissions, disability and mortality trends appeared to have increased in their analysis.

“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.”

Sleep disturbances link with temperature change

Known for its vital replenishing effects on the brain and body, sleep emerged as one of the important factors affecting by climate change.

Sleep is an important foundation for mental health which is impacted by climate change.
Sleep is an important foundation for mental health which is impacted by temperature change associated with climate change.

“Nighttime temperatures may be particularly important, as higher temperatures through the night can disrupt sleep. Poor sleep is known to aggravate a number of brain conditions," the authors wrote.

Those afflicted with dementia are sensitive to the effects of heat related stress or extremely low temperatures, which can lead to temperatures that make hypothermia a risk. They are also vulnerable to the stresses of floods, and other weather risks like wildfires.

The authors wrote: "Greater temperature variation, hotter days, and heatwaves lead to increased dementia-associated hospital admissions and mortality.”

Impaired cognition from weather extremes

Impaired cognition affects the ability for those with particular conditions to adapt and respond to weather related extremes, particularly those that are high risk like floods and heatwaves.

The authors wrote: “Reduced awareness of risk is combined with a diminished capacity to seek help or to mitigate potential harm, such as by drinking more in hot weather or by adjusting clothing.”

Climate anxiety can make mental health worse

Another influence might be the effects of climate anxiety, as climate change becomes a growing problem and concern, particularly worrying younger generations.

Professor Sisodiya also said: “The whole concept of climate anxiety is an added, potentially weighty, influence: many brain conditions are associated with higher risk of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, and such multimorbidities can further complicate impacts of climate change and the adaptations necessary to preserve health. But there are actions we can and should take now.”

Since the authors reviewed studied from decades ago, there was a clear pattern of impacts on brain conditions increasing just as temperatures associated with climate change have also risen through the years.

Takeaways from the review

Mental health, or health in general, should not be left out of the equation when it comes to the global climate change discussion. Professor Sisodiya said: “This work is taking place against a worrying worsening of climatic conditions and it will need to remain agile and dynamic if it is to generate information that is of use to both individuals and organisations."

Aside from this research there has been a lack of studies looking at brain conditions under future climate scenarios, even though climate forecasting has been intensively studied in itself. This inhibits future precautions to public health.

The researchers encourage more awareness of neurological healthcare and brain health in the context of weather events and climate change. After publishing their paper, the co-authors look ahead t the event The Hot Brain 2: climate change and brain health co-organised with The Lancet Neurology.

Reference of the news:

The Lancet Neurology. Climate change and disorders of the nervous system. Commentary/editorial. 2024. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1474442224000875?dgcid=author