Excess heat at home can harm the brain

The popular phrase “heat melts the brain” may be more true than it seems. A recent study has shown that there is a direct relationship between the temperature inside the house and the cognitive performance in people over 60 years.

The results provide a new perspective on how climate change and global warming could increasingly affect the mental health of this age group.

The investigation, which has been carried out by the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Aging Research Instituteentity affiliated with Harvard Medical SchoolIt indicates that older people maintain their capacity for attention when the temperature of the house is between 20 and 24 degrees.

When they leave this interval there are certain consequences, because a change of just four degrees, whether upwards as a downward, doubles the risk of difficulties of attention.

The study has monitored 47 people for a year over 65 years, constantly registering the temperatures of their homes and the incidents of attention that they themselves notified.

The findings, which were published in Journal of Gerontology: Medical ScienceThey show that many older people are already exposed to interior temperatures capable of changing their cognitive performance, even with current climatic conditions.

“Our findings underline the importance of understanding how environmental factors, such as interior temperature, affect the health of the brain of aging populations,” says Amir Baniassadi, main author of the study, researcher at the Marc Institute and specialist in the impact of climate change on the elderly.

Climate change and cognitive aging

The author warns that people with less resources are the most vulnerable, since they usually live in homes that do not have good isolation or adequate air conditioning systems.

That is why it states that “this research highlights the need for public health interventions and housing policies that give priority to the climatic resilience of the elderly. As global temperatures increase, guaranteeing access to environments with controlled temperature will be crucial to protect your cognitive well -being“

The threat is not limited to mental deterioration. Several studies indicate that heat waves increase the risk of cardiovascular problems in the elderly and are the second factor with the highest incidence in disease mortality in our country, according to a report from the University of Navarra.

Challenges and solutions

The increase in aging population and the progress of climate change are two large challenges of the 21st century. This study, with the support of the National Institute of Aging of the United States, connects these two problems by demonstrating how the temperature of the house influences cognitive deterioration.

The authors propose different measures:

• Use of intelligent technologies to optimally regulate the temperature at home.
• Improvements in the energy efficiency of homes.
• Facilitate access to cooling systems for the most disadvantaged communities.

In addition, they recommend regular temperature controls in the homes of the elderly and public policies that ensure their access to effective air conditioning.