Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I'm the "Environmental Bank" who possesses all the worldwide environmental issues. Recently, researchers from UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology found that climate change can negatively affect our brain conditions, which sparked extensive media convergence. Letโs delve into the issue.
What is the finding?
The researchers found that the climate change is likely to have a negative effect to the brain, including 19 different nervous system conditions: stroke, migraine, Alzheimers, meningitis, epilepsy, etc.
Who found it?
Reviewing a review of 332 papers published across the world between 1968 and 2023, the team from UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology asserted that the scale of the potential effect of the climate change to the brain could be substantial.
What are the impacts on brain condition derived from the climate change?
- Worsening of the Epilepsy: As the temperature rises, this disturbs people to sleep well, which makes epilepsy symptoms worse.
- Worsening of the Stroke: Higher temperatures can lead to thicker blood and increased clotting, raising the risk of strokes during heatwaves.
- Worsening of the Multiple Sclerosis: Faulty brain wiring in multiple sclerosis can function less effectively in the heat
Especially, extremes of temperature (both low and high), and greater temperature variation throughout the course of day are more likely to worsen the brain condition.
In addition, urban areas, with their heating effect and lack of green spaces, can amplify the negative effects of heatwaves on neurological and psychiatric diseases.
* Epilepsy: a disorder of the brain characterized by repeated seizures
* Stroke: a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death
* Multiple Sclerosis: an autoimmune disease in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged
So, what should we do?
We could both consider mitigation and adaptation to minimize the negative effects of the brain conditions.
Mitigation involves the efforts to reduce the negative impact of climate change.
1) Government-led initiatives: Governments need to implement polices and regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions. This includes enhancement of the energy efficiency, setting emission reduction goals, and transition to sustainable energy sources.
2) International Coordination: Since climate change is a global issue, international consensus is inevitable to mitigate the climate change problems.
Adaptation involves making adjustments in practices, processes, and structures to reduce the harm caused by climate change.
1) Public Health Interventions:
- Education and Awareness: Providing information about the risks with extreme weather conditions to patients, families, and caregivers and how to manage them can help mitigate the adverse effects.
- Training for Healthcare Providers: Training doctors and public health experts to recognize and treat climate-related exacerbations of neurological and psychiatric conditions can improve patient outcomes.
2) Weather-Health Alert Systems: Local centers could implement weather-heat alert systems to provide timely warnings and advice during extreme weather events.
3) Infrastructure adaptation:
- Cooling Centers: We could establish cooling centers in urban areas for people to escape from the extreme heats, especially for the people who are suffering from the neurological disorders.
- Urban Planning: Enhancing green spaces in cities or planting trees can reduce the urban heat effect and help lower local temperatures.
4) Personalized Healthcare Plans: Healthcare providers can develop personalized risk assessments for patients with neurological conditions, to identify those who are most vulnerable to extreme temperature and provide specific advice to mitigate risks.
Wrap-up
As I encounter more and more environmental articles, I realize that the extent and consequences that the climate change brings is a way bigger than I have previously expected. As the interdependent relationship between the climate change and humans and natural ecosystems turns to be clear, I want people to urgently take an action to mitigate the effects of climate change. I also wish scientists to actively strive to specify the interplay of the climate change and nature.
Thank you for reading this long article and for lending me your precious time. If you found today's read informative, please SUBSCRIBE to 'Environmental Bank.' Thank you.
์๊ฒฌ์ ๋จ๊ฒจ์ฃผ์ธ์