https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/14/climate-change-is-putting-europes-brain-health-at-risk
By Giedre PeseckyteBy Giedre Peseckyte
Rising temperatures, poor air quality and the spread of infectious diseases could increase the burden of neurological disorders, with the most vulnerable communities facing the greatest risks.
Climate change is emerging as a growing threat to brain health, as rising temperatures and other environmental pressures add to the burden of neurological health conditions.
Neurological disorders, ranging from migraines to dementia and Parkinson’s disease, affect around one in three people over their lifetime, according to estimates cited by neurologist Ulf Kallweit, who is also a co-chair of the environmental influences task force at the European Academy of Neurology. Combined with mental health conditions, they accounted for an estimated global economic burden of €1.5 trillion in 2019.
“Everybody is somehow affected or knows somebody who is affected by a neurological disorder,” Kallweit told Euronews Health on the sidelines of the European Health Forum Gastein.
As climate change drives temperatures higher, the situation could deteriorate further, he warned, worsening existing conditions and potentially increasing the risk of developing neurological disorders.
But the trajectory is not inevitable. Policymakers can help limit the risks through measures that reduce exposure to heat and pollution and improve the environments in which people live.
