Iris Cole interviews Dr. Amnon Musk about headaches and migraines (Walla system)
As the Earth warms, we not only experience more natural disasters, but also serious health consequences.
People with neurological diseases such as headaches, dementia, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease may experience worsening symptoms due to the climate crisis, scientists have warned.
A review of published studies on climate change and neurological disease showed that extreme weather events and temperature fluctuations were associated with a higher incidence of stroke, as well as migraine, dementia hospitalizations and worsening multiple sclerosis.
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The review, published in the American Academy of Neurology journal Neurology, also showed that climate change has resulted in "favorable conditions" that encourage the spread of neuroinfectious diseases, such as West Nile fever, meningitis and other brain infections.
Such conditions have expanded "beyond traditional geographic areas" due to global warming, and that these diseases carried by animals and insects are endangering new populations.
Exposure to airborne pollutants, such as nitrates and fine particles, has also been linked to the incidence and severity of stroke, headaches, risk of dementia, Parkinson's disease and exacerbation of multiple sclerosis, the review added.
The ball heats up and so does our brain.
Illustration of a headache (photo: image processing, Walla)
"Irreversible environmental changes have already occurred"
Dr. Andrew Dhawan, of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and author of the review, said that despite the international community's attempts to reduce the global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius, "irreversible environmental changes have already occurred." He added that "as we witness the effects of a warming planet on human health, it is imperative that neurologists anticipate how neurological disease might change."
The review, which looked at published studies on climate change, pollutants, temperature extremes and neurological disease between 1990 and 2022, found 364 relevant studies in three categories. This included 289 studies on the impact of pollution , 38 on extreme weather events and temperature fluctuations, and 37 on neuroinfectious diseases.
But Dr. Dwan said some of the challenges climate change poses to humanity "are not well studied." "For example, our review did not find any papers related to effects on neurological health from food and water insecurity, yet these are clearly related to neurological health and climate change," he explained. , "Further studies are needed on ways to reduce the transmission of neuroinfectious diseases, how air pollution affects the nervous system and how to improve the provision of neurological care in the face of climate-related disruptions."
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