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Chennai, India – June 16, 2024: Experts emphasize that avoiding prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures is crucial for the healthy development of children’s brains. During early developmental stages, exposure to severe heat or cold can significantly impact neurodevelopment, particularly affecting the integrity of white matter. Proper insulation, minimizing exposure to extreme temperatures, and educating parents and caregivers on recognizing signs of heat and cold stress are essential measures to safeguard children’s developing brains.
Dr. Sreenivas U.M., a neurology consultant at MGM Hospital in Chennai, highlighted the dangers of heat exposure. “Heat exposure can lead to hyperthermia, disrupting normal cellular processes and causing neuronal injury,” he explained. “The developing brain, with its high metabolic rate, is particularly susceptible to heat-induced oxidative stress.”
Dr. Sreenivas noted that during the critical early years of life, the brain undergoes rapid growth and is vulnerable to environmental stressors like extreme heat or cold. These stressors can impair cognitive functions by damaging myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibers essential for efficient nerve signal transmission.
Young children are especially at risk due to their underdeveloped thermoregulatory mechanisms, which make them more susceptible to white matter injury. Dr. Shivananda Pai, a neurology consultant at KMC Hospital in Mangalore, explained, “Temperature extremes can disrupt myelination, trigger inflammatory responses that damage myelin, and induce structural brain changes.”
A recent study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, which included 2,681 children, found that exposure to cold during pregnancy and the first year of life, and exposure to heat from birth until three years of age, were associated with higher mean diffusivity at preadolescence. This points to slower white matter maturation, highlighting the long-term impact of temperature extremes on brain development.
In this study, ‘cold’ and ‘heat’ were defined as temperatures at the lower and upper ends of the temperature distribution in the study region, respectively. The findings underscore the importance of maintaining an optimal thermal environment during early development stages.
Dr. Amrut S.D., an associate consultant in neurology at Manipal Hospital in Goa, elaborated on the stages of brain development, including neurogenesis, migration, maturation, synaptogenesis, pruning, and myelination. “Myelination, which starts in the third trimester and continues into middle age, can be disrupted by extreme temperatures. This can lead to physiological stress, neuro-inflammation, oxidative stress, cell death, and delayed myelination,” he said.
The experts collectively stress the need for creating and maintaining a stable thermal environment for young children to ensure healthy brain maturation and function. Parents and caregivers should be educated on the signs of heat and cold stress and the importance of shielding children from extreme temperatures.
Key Recommendations:
- Proper Insulation: Ensure that living environments are well-insulated to maintain a stable temperature.
- Avoid Prolonged Exposure: Minimize the time children spend in extreme temperatures.
- Education: Educate parents and caregivers about recognizing signs of heat and cold stress and the importance of protecting children from extreme temperatures.
By taking these measures, we can help ensure the healthy development of children’s brains and safeguard their cognitive functions for the future.
