A UCL-led study published in The Lancet Neurology has revealed a significant link between climate change and the exacerbation of neurological and psychiatric conditions.

The comprehensive review included 332 papers and identified climate warming as a potential aggravator of conditions like stroke, migraine, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis, as well as psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

Increased temperatures, weather extremes, and adverse weather events are associated with higher rates of hospital admissions and mortality due to brain health issues.

The researchers urge the integration of current and future climate change scenarios in ongoing research to better understand the impact on brain health.

There is a call to action for global awareness of the risks that climate change poses to neurological and psychiatric healthcare, and the promotion of strategies to combat and adapt to these changes.

The study was supported by the Epilepsy Society and the National Brain Appeal Innovation Fund, underscoring the necessity for immediate global efforts to minimize the effects of climate change on human health.