Climate Change Is Affecting Brain Health, Study Finds

Conditions like dementia, epilepsy and depression could spread and worsen in severity as the world heats up.

In a study released Wednesday, University College London researchers analyzed neuroscience literature to reveal how extreme heat and climate change-fueled disasters influence key neurological diseases and mental health disorders. They found that environmental factors not only affect the prevalence of disease but can heighten the associated risk of hospital admission, disability and even death.

Climate change’s impact on health has been well studied, particularly when it comes to infectious and respiratory diseases. But it also takes a toll on neurological health, with the body’s temperature ...