Climate change and neurological disorders in childhood: A scoping review
Abstract
Objectives: Climate change's impact on global health is increasingly recognized, with growing focus on its effects on the developing brain and on children with neurological disorders. This scoping review aims to update the evidence on climate change's effects on paediatric neurological disorders.
Methods: A PRISMA-ScR-based protocol guided a systematic search across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, WoS, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP). We included all study types published in English up to September 2025 examining the impact of any climate-change related factor in children (0-18 years) with neurological disorders. Data extraction included study design, population, exposure/intervention and outcome variables.
Results: Out of 482 records, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria, involving over 340,000 children (54.6% male, in studies reporting sex distribution) across Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. A total of 15 out of 17 studies were observational (OCEBM level 3-4). Epilepsy and seizures were the most frequently investigated conditions (8/17 studies). Extreme heat triggered immediate increases in hospitalisations, while cold exposure showed delayed but prolonged effects (up to 21 days). Temperature variability and air pollution further amplified seizure risk. Winter storms disrupted medication access which led to seizure worsening. Other studies (5/17 studies) linked meningitis and encephalitis incidence to high temperatures, humidity, and seasonal variability,…
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