The impact of rising global temperatures on neurological diseases
- 1Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Neurologia Campinas SP Brazil
Abstract
Background: Climate change, driven predominantly by anthropogenic actions, represents a defining challenge of the 21st century. While its general health implications are well documented, the specific impact of global warming on neurological diseases has remained underemphasized for decades.
Objective: To evaluate the association between rising global temperatures and the exacerbation or incidence of various neurological conditions through a systematic review.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE and SciELO databases for studies published between 2011 and 2026. Following strict eligibility criteria, 13 peer-reviewed articles were selected for qualitative synthesis.
Results: The evidence reveals that rising temperatures are increasingly linked to the worsening of conditions such as epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Specifically, heat exposure is associated with higher hospitalization rates and acute symptom exacerbation, such as Uhthoff's phenomenon in MS and autonomic thermoregulatory failure in Parkinson's. Although some geographic and methodological discrepancies exist, particularly regarding stroke and seizure frequency, the overall trend indicates increased neurological vulnerability to thermal stress.
Conclusion: While research is expanding, neurological diseases remain an understudied frontier of the climate crisis. Targeted scientific investigation and robust public health strategies are imperative to mitigate the emerging neurological risks of a warming planet.
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BibTeX
@article{pereira2026impact,
title = {{The impact of rising global temperatures on neurological diseases}},
author = {Gabriela Monteiro Pereira and Gustavo Wagner Baratti Rocha and Li Min Li},
journal = {Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1055/s-0046-1829128},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0046-1829128},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The impact of rising global temperatures on neurological diseases
AU - Gabriela Monteiro Pereira
AU - Gustavo Wagner Baratti Rocha
AU - Li Min Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
DO - 10.1055/s-0046-1829128
UR - https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0046-1829128
AB - Background: Climate change, driven predominantly by anthropogenic actions, represents a defining challenge of the 21st century. While its general health implications are well documented, the specific impact of global warming on neurological diseases has remained underemphasized for decades. Objective: To evaluate the association between rising global temperatures and the exacerbation or incidence of various neurological conditions through a systematic review. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE and SciELO databases for studies published between 2011 and 2026. Following strict eligibility criteria, 13 peer-reviewed articles were selected for qualitative synthesis. Results: The evidence reveals that rising temperatures are increasingly linked to the worsening of conditions such as epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Specifically, heat exposure is associated with higher hospitalization rates and acute symptom exacerbation, such as Uhthoff's phenomenon in MS and autonomic thermoregulatory failure in Parkinson's. Although some geographic and methodological discrepancies exist, particularly regarding stroke and seizure frequency, the overall trend indicates increased neurological vulnerability to thermal stress. Conclusion: While research is expanding, neurological diseases remain an understudied frontier of the climate crisis. Targeted scientific investigation and robust public health strategies are imperative to mitigate the emerging neurological risks of a warming planet.
SN - 0004-282X
SN - 1678-4227
ER -