How climate change affects your brain: A new study

Climate change is not just affecting the weather; it's also impacting our brains, says a new study in Nature Climate Change.

A team of international specialists from various universities explores how a changing environment affects brain function and how climate change might impact it in the future.

Let's see what they've discovered.

Climate change affects almost everything

The author of the research stresses the importance of comprehending how elements like extreme weather events, air pollution, access to nature, and stress linked to climate change might impact our brains.

Research in mice since the 1940s has shown that changes in the environment have a substantial impact on brain development.

Human studies have supported these findings, revealing disruptions in brain systems caused by conditions like poverty, insufficient cognitive stimulation, exposure to toxins, poor nutrition, and even childhood stress.

Why it's important to know

The specialists advocate for additional studies to investigate the potential impact of extreme weather events on human brain structure, function, and overall health, with potential repercussions for well-being and behavior.

Also, they propose that neuroscience can significantly contribute to shaping our perspectives, judgments, and responses to climate change.

This underscores the necessity for a more integrated approach that considers the interconnectedness of brain function and climate change.
 

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• research
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• 5 December 2023

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