In a recent study published in Nature Climate Change , researchers investigated the impact of temperature exposure on children's mental health and cognition during prenatal and early childhood periods. Their findings indicate that exposure to heat during infancy and toddlerhood and cold during pregnancy and infancy is associated with reduced myelination and maturation of white matter in children's brains, highlighting the potential long-term neurological risks posed by climate change. Study: Early life cold and heat exposure impacts white matter development in children .
Image Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock.com Climate change poses significant threats to human health. Global warming is already exceeding 1 °C above preindustrial levels and is projected to reach 1.
5 °C by around 2040. Additionally, climate change has been linked to more extreme cold events, both of which contribute to increased morbidity and mortality. Children are particularly vulnerable to temperature variability due to their immature thermoregulation mechanisms.
Previous research has shown that both cold and heat exposure can negatively impact children's health, including their mental health, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and aggressive behavior. Cognitive functions, such as academic performance, are also affected by extreme temperatures, with some studies indicating long-term impacts on cognitive function and economic outcomes later in life. However, previous studies have primarily focused on.
