It is well documented that climate change is altering our planet. The latest evidence also shows climate change is beginning to affect human health.
A group of researchers from Italy led by Dr. Paolo Bongioanni published a study in the journal Environmental Research that provides an early look how climate change can affect neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson's disease. Their goal was to find out if there is a relationship between hotter temperatures and the development of these neurological conditions.
Neurodegenerative diseases occur when the nervous system malfunctions. One of the most common is Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia that has been on the rise since 1990. About 10% of Americans ages 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease.
Parkinson's disease is another prevalent neurodegenerative disease, which causes severe deterioration of motor skills and most commonly affects older people. About 1 million Americans are currently living with Parkinson’s disease.
As the prevalence of these diseases increases, temperatures are also on the rise. The 10 warmest years in the historical record have all occurred since 2010.
We know that experiencing high temperatures has physical effects on the human body. Extreme heat can lead to two physiological conditions: heat shock, which causes confusion, dizziness, and possibly altered mental states; and heat stress, which causes excessive sweating, muscle cramps, rapid heart rate – and can eventually lead to inflammation or damage to the body’s never cells. Exposure to heat in high levels or for long periods of time can also impair biochemical processes, interrupting normal bodily functions.
Older adults are more susceptible to the physical effects of heat because, as the human body ages, its ability to regulate temperature and respond to changes in the environment erodes.
What does this all mean? In their study, these researchers found that experiencing extremely high temperatures or living in the heat for a prolonged period damages the nervous system. They were able to document some of the specific molecular pathways that occur when older adults are exposed to high temperatures over long periods of time.
They concluded, because older adults are physically more vulnerable to high temperatures, exposure likely worsens the symptoms of neurological diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
This study contributes to the evidence that climate change will continue to affect human health in the years to come.