Standfirst: Rising temperatures, poor air quality and changing infectious-disease patterns could place additional pressure on neurological health across Europe. Experts say vulnerable communities may face the greatest risks, while better housing, cleaner air and access to green spaces could help reduce the impact.
Climate change is increasingly being linked to risks for brain health, with heat, pollution, disrupted sleep and infectious diseases all potentially adding to the burden of neurological conditions. The concern extends beyond emergency heatwave effects: repeated environmental stress may also worsen existing illnesses and deepen health inequalities.
Neurological disorders such as migraine, dementia, Parkinson’s disease and stroke already affect a substantial share of the population over a lifetime. Neurologist Ulf Kallweit, co-chair of the environmental influences task force at the European Academy of Neurology, told Euronews Health that neurological and mental health conditions created an estimated global economic burden of €1.5 trillion in 2019.
How climate change can affect the brain
Heat is one of the clearest pathways connecting climate change with neurological risk. As temperatures rise, the body must work harder to regulate its internal temperature, placing additional strain on the cardiovascular system and brain.
High temperatures are associated with an increase in stroke cases, particularly when temperatures rise above 30°C. Kallweit said heat-related strokes currently account for about 1% of all stroke cases, but suggested that this share could rise to between 5% and 8% over the next 20 to 30 years if warming trends continue. These figures were presented as an expert warning rather than a confirmed forecast.
Sleep disruption is another concern
Hot nights can make it difficult for the body to cool down. So-called tropical nights, when temperatures remain above 20°C, can interfere with deep sleep and reduce the body’s ability to recover.
Occasional poor sleep is unlikely to have the same impact as prolonged disruption. However, persistent sleep problems are associated with higher risks of serious health conditions, including stroke and cognitive decline. This makes heat adaptation an important part of wider public-health planning, particularly in homes that lack effective cooling.
Pollution and infectious diseases add to the pressure
Climate change does not affect brain health through heat alone. Air pollution, noise and exposure to toxic substances can contribute to an unhealthy urban environment, while changing weather patterns may alter the distribution of some infectious diseases.
Ticks and mosquitoes can transmit infections that affect the nervous system. Lyme borreliosis, spread by infected ticks, can lead to neurological complications. Mosquito-borne diseases are also part of the discussion about Europe’s changing climate, although the future spread of any particular disease remains dependent on several factors, including local conditions and public-health controls.
Malaria is not currently established across much of Europe, but Kallweit said its possible future impact in parts of southern Europe should be considered as temperatures change. This is a risk assessment, not a claim that malaria has already become widespread in the region.
The burden will not be shared equally
Climate-related risks are often greatest for people who already face health or social disadvantages. Groups that may be particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and environmental stress include:
- Older people
- Children
- Pregnant women
- People with existing neurological, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions
- Residents of poorly insulated homes
- People living in deprived neighbourhoods
Socioeconomic conditions can shape exposure and the ability to respond. Someone who cannot afford air conditioning, improved insulation or a quieter place to sleep may have fewer options during a prolonged heatwave. Housing quality, access to nutritious food, local pollution levels and nearby green space can all influence health outcomes.
Research cited in the discussion has linked socioeconomic deprivation with poorer indicators of brain health, including lower total brain volume and greater signs of vascular damage. Climate change could intensify these existing inequalities unless adaptation measures are designed to reach communities most at risk.
Why urban planning matters
Cities are central to the response because residents may face a combination of heat, traffic pollution, noise and stressful living conditions. Urban design can either increase exposure or provide protection.
Green spaces may help by providing cooler environments, opportunities for physical activity and places for people to recover from urban stress. Kallweit cited research suggesting that spending time in woodland could be associated with lower stroke and dementia risks, although such findings should not be interpreted as a guarantee that visiting a forest prevents disease.
Individual actions can still support wellbeing during hot weather. Protecting sleep, reducing exposure to nighttime light and noise, staying hydrated and seeking cooler surroundings may be useful. Yet personal precautions cannot replace public policy.
What policymakers can do
Measures to protect brain health from climate-related pressures could include:
- Heat-warning systems and accessible cooling centres
- Better insulation, ventilation and shading in homes and public buildings
- Cleaner air and stronger safeguards against hazardous substances
- More trees and accessible green spaces in urban areas
- Health services prepared for heat-related strokes and other emergencies
- Surveillance of mosquito- and tick-borne infections
- Building designs that reduce indoor overheating
These measures connect climate policy with public health, housing, transport and urban planning. They also highlight why adaptation must account for affordability: a cooler and healthier environment should not be available only to people who can pay for private improvements.
What this means for Europe
The evidence does not mean that climate change will inevitably produce a uniform rise in neurological disease across Europe. Risks will vary by region, age, health status, housing and access to healthcare. However, the combination of hotter days, warmer nights, pollution and changing infectious-disease patterns creates a growing reason to include brain health in climate adaptation strategies.
For Ireland and other European countries, the implications include ensuring that public-health planning, housing standards and local development policies account for heat and air quality. The precise risks will differ by location, but the underlying principle is shared: reducing exposure to environmental stress can help protect people who are already vulnerable.
Conclusion
Climate change is becoming an important public-health challenge for brain health in Europe. Heat-related stroke, prolonged sleep disruption, pollution and climate-sensitive infections could place additional pressure on neurological health, with disadvantaged communities especially exposed. The clearest takeaway is that climate adaptation must include healthier homes, cleaner air, accessible green spaces and targeted protection for vulnerable people—not just emergency responses during heatwaves.
