Action potential: Impact of climate change on neurological disease in Ireland

Anthropogenic climate change has led to a significant increase in global average temperatures and the frequency of extreme heat events. Rising temperatures have a broad range of health implications and have the potential to significantly impact neurological disorders and brain health. A growing body of evidence suggests that the incidence and severity of many common neurological conditions (stroke, epilepsy, headache, neuroinflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders) are affected by climate change. Ireland's average temperature is rising, and we are likely to experience extreme heat events more frequently in the coming years. In this review, we highlight the current evidence on the impact of climate change and air pollution on neurological disease in the context of Irish climate trends and advocate for more urgent healthcare planning to address the impact of climate change on the Irish healthcare service.