Climate change and sleep

Our Director of Genomics, Professor Sanjay Sisodiya, is a co-author of a Nature Review Perspective, exploring how climate change is affecting human health globally. In this Perspective, the research team explored how changing weather patterns resulting from climate change affect sleep. Unaccustomed temperature extremes can impair the systems of the brain, increasing or exacerbating increasing susceptibility to neurological disease.

This Perspective explores how the complex influences of climate change impact on people with epilepsy or who have had a stroke. 

Sleep is a major determinant of quality of life. It is an important factor in many neurological diseases and the direct and indirect effects of climate change have serious implications for physical and mental health, brain function, disease susceptibility and aggravation. Sleep deprivation is an important trigger for seizures in many individuals. In a survey of over 1,000 people with epilepsy and their carers, undertaken by Epilepsy Society in the UK, after the first of three heatwaves in 2020, 56.1% noted that their seizures were more frequent, more severe or broke through previously established seizure control during the heatwave. 

Extreme heat and cold have both been linked to increased hospitalisation rates in children with epilepsy, and the effects seem to be aggravated by pollution. People with epilepsy are likely to be particularly vulnerable to heatwaves and higher temperatures. 

Factors that contribute to climate change vulnerability in people with epilepsy include:

• Stress, sleep deprivation and pre-existing increased risk of SUDEP
• Cognitive impairment
• Very young or very old age
• Frailty
• Pregnancy
• Effects of anti-seizure medication on sleep, ability to regulate body temperature 
• Inequitable access to healthcare and/or disruption to medication 

By adopting adaptive measures such as increasing public awareness of risk and addressing socio-economic deprivation and improving residential housing and access to green spaces, there should be a reduction in the number of seizures and fewer hospital admissions. When people have improved sleep this enhances their quality of life, and with better living conditions and greater access to public transport this will improve health.

The Perspective also includes practical steps for neurologists to promote climate change discussions, particularly with younger researchers, promote sustainability by attending online meetings, taking the train rather than plane and devise sustainable research programmes. On a practical level it encourages neurologists to recognise the impact of climate anxiety, exploring the possible effects of extreme temperatures with patients, and keeping patients informed about staying cool during uncomfortably hot nights. 

The paper concludes that formal research exploring the effects of climate change on neurological health is essential. And that neuroscientists and senior neurologists need to create an atmosphere that permits and promotes discussions about climate change and aim to improve neurological health in the context of a changing climate. 

The paper is available at: Imperatives and co-benefits of research into climate change and neurological disease | Nature Reviews Neurology