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A new study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and IDIBELL has found that exposure to high ambient temperatures is associated with lower connectivity in key brain networks in preadolescents. The research, conducted in collaboration with Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (ERASMUS MC) and the Networked Biomedical Research Center (CIBER), suggests that heat may impact brain function in children.
Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the study analyzed data from 2,229 children aged 9 to 12 from the “Generation R” cohort in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Using resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), researchers examined how different regions of the brain communicate when the children were not engaged in active tasks.
Heat Exposure and Brain Connectivity
Daily mean temperature estimates were gathered from the UrbClim urban climate model, developed by the Flemish Institute for Technological Research. The study assigned temperature values from 2013 to 2015 to each participant based on their home address. Findings revealed that higher ambient temperatures during the week leading up to the MRI scan correlated with reduced functional connectivity in three critical brain networks:
- Medial parietal network – Linked to self-perception and introspection.
- Salience network – Essential for detecting and prioritizing important stimuli.
- Hippocampal network – Crucial for memory and learning.
These findings suggest that heat exposure could cause brain regions to work less synchronously, potentially affecting attention, memory, and decision-making.
Dehydration as a Possible Factor
Lead author Laura Granés, a researcher at IDIBELL and ISGlobal, hypothesized that dehydration might explain these results, as children are particularly susceptible to fluid loss in hot conditions, which could impact brain connectivity.
Mònica Guxens, ICREA researcher at ISGlobal and senior author of the study, emphasized the need for public health policies to protect children from high temperatures to mitigate potential effects on brain function.
Potential Mental Health Implications
This study is one of the first to examine the impact of ambient temperature on functional brain networks. Previous research by the same team found that exposure to extreme temperatures can influence psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and attention problems.
Carles Soriano-Mas, a researcher at IDIBELL and the University of Barcelona, raised a significant concern regarding the salience network. Reduced connectivity in this network has been linked to suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors in adolescents with depression and anxiety disorders. Soriano-Mas suggested that high temperatures might indirectly contribute to a higher risk of suicide in individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions by decreasing functional connectivity.
While the researchers do not claim that these connectivity changes directly lead to suicidal behaviors, they acknowledge that heat exposure could act as a trigger in vulnerable individuals.
Conclusion and Future Directions
This study underscores the importance of considering environmental factors in child and adolescent mental health research. As global temperatures continue to rise, further investigation is needed to better understand the long-term effects of heat exposure on brain function and mental health in young populations.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes findings from a scientific study and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. If you have concerns about the effects of heat on health, please consult a healthcare professional.
