Climate Change May Worsen Children’s Brain And Nerve Conditions

What was studied

This paper was a scoping review, which means the authors gathered and summarized existing research rather than running one new experiment. They searched major medical databases for English-language studies published up to September 2025 about climate-change related exposures in children ages 0 to 18 with neurological disorders.

They found 17 studies with more than 340,000 children from Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. Most studies were observational, meaning researchers mainly looked for patterns in real-world data. Epilepsy and seizures were the most commonly studied conditions, but the review also included studies on meningitis, encephalitis, migraine, behavioral health disorder groups with cold-related illness, and one study on brain white matter development seen on MRI after prenatal or early childhood temperature exposure.

What they found

Across the included studies, climate-related factors were associated with worse neurological health in children. For epilepsy and seizures, extreme heat was associated with immediate increases in hospitalisations, while cold exposure showed delayed effects that could last up to 21 days. Temperature variability and air pollution were also associated with higher seizure risk. Winter storms disrupted access to medicines, which was associated with seizure worsening.

The review also found that meningitis and encephalitis incidence was linked to high temperature, humidity, and seasonal variability, especially in lower-resource settings. Sunlight and humidity were reported as common migraine triggers. One study found that exposure to temperature extremes before birth or in early childhood was associated with altered white matter development on MRI. Overall, children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged settings appeared to be the most vulnerable.

Limits of the evidence

This review cannot prove that climate change directly caused these neurological problems. Most of the included studies were observational and lower-level evidence, so they can show associations but not clear cause and effect. The studies were also quite different from each other in design, exposures, outcomes, and settings.

Only 17 studies were included, and many findings were condition-specific and context-specific. Some topics were covered by only one or a few studies, such as white matter development. Because the review included only English-language studies, relevant research in other languages may have been missed.

For families and caregivers

For families, this review suggests that weather extremes, pollution, and disasters may affect some children with neurological conditions, especially children with epilepsy. Possible effects include more seizures, trouble getting medicines during storms, and higher incidence of some brain infections in certain climates.

This does not mean every child will be affected in the same way, and the evidence is still incomplete. Still, the review highlights practical concerns families may already notice, such as heat, cold, poor air quality, or disrupted routines being associated with harder-to-manage symptoms. It also suggests that children in lower-resource settings may face greater risks.

What to watch next

Stronger evidence would come from larger long-term studies across multiple regions using harmonised methods to help clarify causal pathways and guide preventive strategies.

Terms in this summary

scoping review

A study that collects and summarizes what research has already been published on a topic.

observational study

A study where researchers watch what happens in real life without assigning treatments or exposures.

temperature variability

Frequent changes in temperature over time, such as swings between hotter and colder conditions.

air pollution

Harmful substances in the air, such as smoke, particles, or gases, that can affect health.

meningitis

An infection or inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.

encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain, often caused by an infection.

white matter

Brain tissue that helps different parts of the brain send signals to each other.

MRI

A scan that uses magnets to make detailed pictures of the inside of the body, including the brain.