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Imperatives and co-benefits of research into climate change and neurological disease

Gulcebi, Medine I; Leddy, Sara; Behl, Katherine; Dijk, Derk-Jan; Marder, Eve; Maslin, Mark; Mavrogianni, Anna; ... Sisodiya, Sanjay M; + view all (2025) Imperatives and co-benefits of research into climate change and neurological disease. Nature Reviews Neurology , 21 pp. 216-228. 10.1038/s41582-024-01055-6. Green open access

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Abstract

Evidence suggests that anthropogenic climate change is accelerating and is affecting human health globally. Despite urgent calls to address health effects in the context of the additional challenges of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and ageing populations, the effects of climate change on specific health conditions are still poorly understood. Neurological diseases contribute substantially to the global burden of disease, and the possible direct and indirect consequences of climate change for people with these conditions are a cause for concern. Unaccustomed temperature extremes can impair the systems of resilience of the brain, thereby exacerbating or increasing susceptibility to neurological disease. In this Perspective, we explore how changing weather patterns resulting from climate change affect sleep — an essential restorative human brain activity, the quality of which is important for people with neurological diseases. We also consider the pervasive and complex influences of climate change on two common neurological conditions: stroke and epilepsy. We highlight the urgent need for research into the mechanisms underlying the effects of climate change on the brain in health and disease. We also discuss how neurologists can respond constructively to the climate crisis by raising awareness and promoting mitigation measures and research — actions that will bring widespread co-benefits.

Type: Article
Title: Imperatives and co-benefits of research into climate change and neurological disease
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1038/s41582-024-01055-6
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-024-01055-6
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Epilepsy, Risk factors, Sleep disorders, Stroke
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10202858
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