2023-08-17 13:14:48
August 17, 2023
A study conducted by New York University shows that prolonged exposure to extreme heat is associated with accelerated loss of cognitive functions. These studies show an excess risk among the poorest populations.
Inequalities in the face of high heat. As July 2023 was the hottest month on record in the world, researchers assessed the impact of heat on cognitive functions. According to this study by New York University, published on August 15 in The Journal of Epidemiology and Community health, repeated exposure to extreme heat is associated with faster cognitive decline among residents of poor neighborhoods. The same phenomenon was not observed among residents of wealthy neighborhoods.
The researchers analyzed data from nearly 9,500 American adults aged 52 and older over a 12-year period (2006-2018). They calculated the participants’ cumulative exposure to extreme heat – a specific threshold established in relation to the area of residence – and analyzed their socio-economic situation. This data came from the Health and Retirement Study conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, which aimed to measure participants’ cognitive functions over a 12-year period.
Cell damage
“Cognitive decline may not show up immediately following a single heat episode, but repeated or prolonged exposures to extreme heat can be detrimental,” says Virginia Chang, associate professor of social and behavioral sciences at the NYU School of Global Public Health and lead author of the study. She adds : “Cumulative exposure to extreme heat can trigger a cascade of events in the brain, including cellular damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress, all of which can deplete cognitive reserve.”
“Affluent neighborhoods tend to have resources that can help in a heat wave, such as well-maintained green spaces, air conditioning and cool zones. In disadvantaged neighborhoods, these resources may not exist,” analysis for her part is Haena Lee, assistant professor of sociology at Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea) and co-author of the study. “Other factors associated with poor neighborhoods – chronically stressed residents, greater social isolation, and fewer specialized services for cognitive health – may also contribute to this disparity,” she completes.
For policies aimed at disadvantaged populations
This American study shows that African-American populations are more exposed to cognitive impairment. A result that the researchers explain “due to structural racism, segregation, and other discriminatory policies, all of which can affect cognitive reserve” – this part of the study therefore seems difficult to transpose to other countries.
However, this work shows that in the face of high temperatures, vulnerable populations are exposed to increased risks of decline in cognitive functions. The researchers therefore recommend that governments set up specific prevention policies aimed at the poorest populations.
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