Effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Emerging research has suggested a link between ambient temperature and mental and neurological conditions such as depression and dementia. This systematic review aims to summarize the epidemiological evidence on the effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in...

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Main Authors: Garam Byun, Yongsoo Choi, Damien Foo, Rory Stewart, Yimeng Song, Ji-Young Son, Seulkee Heo, Xuejuan Ning, Cassandra Clark, Honghyok Kim, Hayon Michelle Choi, Sera Kim, Soo-Yeon Kim, Kate Burrows, Jong-Tae Lee, Nicole C. Deziel, Michelle L. Bell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Environment International
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024007529
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author Garam Byun
Yongsoo Choi
Damien Foo
Rory Stewart
Yimeng Song
Ji-Young Son
Seulkee Heo
Xuejuan Ning
Cassandra Clark
Honghyok Kim
Hayon Michelle Choi
Sera Kim
Soo-Yeon Kim
Kate Burrows
Jong-Tae Lee
Nicole C. Deziel
Michelle L. Bell
author_facet Garam Byun
Yongsoo Choi
Damien Foo
Rory Stewart
Yimeng Song
Ji-Young Son
Seulkee Heo
Xuejuan Ning
Cassandra Clark
Honghyok Kim
Hayon Michelle Choi
Sera Kim
Soo-Yeon Kim
Kate Burrows
Jong-Tae Lee
Nicole C. Deziel
Michelle L. Bell
author_sort Garam Byun
collection DOAJ
description Background: Emerging research has suggested a link between ambient temperature and mental and neurological conditions such as depression and dementia. This systematic review aims to summarize the epidemiological evidence on the effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults, who may be more vulnerable to temperature-related health effects compared to younger individuals. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid/Embase, Web of Science, and Ovid/PsycINFO on July 17, 2023, and updated on July 31, 2024. We included epidemiological studies investigating the association between ambient temperature exposures and numerous mental and neurological conditions in populations aged 60 years and older. Exclusions were made for studies on indoor or controlled exposure, suicide, substance abuse, those not published as peer-reviewed journal articles, or those not written in English. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed using a tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Qualitative synthesis was performed on all eligible studies, and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted on groups of at least four studies sharing similar study design, exposure metric, and health outcome. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) framework modified by the WHO. Results: From 16,786 screened articles, 76 studies were deemed eligible, primarily from mainland China and North America. There was notable heterogeneity in study variables and methodologies. The most commonly used exposure metrics were daily absolute temperature and heat waves, and time-series and case-crossover analyses were the most frequently employed study designs. Meta-analysis of four studies on the effect of a 1 °C increase in temperature on hospital admissions/visits for mental disorders showed a pooled risk ratio (RR) of 1.014 (95 % Confidence Interval, CI: 1.001, 1.026). Comparing heat wave days to non-heat wave days, pooled effect estimates showed increased risk in hospital admissions/visits (RR: 1.269; 95 % CI: 1.030, 1.564; six studies) and mortality related to mental disorders (RR: 1.266; 95 % CI: 0.956, 1.678; four studies). Despite the limited number of studies on cold exposures, they consistently reported that lower temperatures were associated with an increased risk of various mental and neurological conditions. Conclusions: This review presents epidemiological evidence of the adverse impacts of ambient temperature exposures, such as high temperatures and heat waves, on mental and neurological conditions among the older adult population, with overall moderate certainty. The findings highlight the need for greater attention to the mental and neurological health of older adults in the context of climate change and population aging.Registration number (PROSPERO ID): CRD42023428137.
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spelling doaj-art-2bfb3cebbe7d4e47aa9f3dc278a06bd32024-12-19T10:52:08ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202024-12-01194109166Effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysisGaram Byun0Yongsoo Choi1Damien Foo2Rory Stewart3Yimeng Song4Ji-Young Son5Seulkee Heo6Xuejuan Ning7Cassandra Clark8Honghyok Kim9Hayon Michelle Choi10Sera Kim11Soo-Yeon Kim12Kate Burrows13Jong-Tae Lee14Nicole C. Deziel15Michelle L. Bell16School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Corresponding author at: School of the Environment, Yale University, 301, Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USASchool of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USASchool of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USASchool of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USASchool of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USASchool of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USASchool of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USASchool of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USADivision of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USADepartment of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USAInterdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaMilken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington D.C., USADepartment of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USAInterdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; School of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaSchool of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USASchool of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; School of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaBackground: Emerging research has suggested a link between ambient temperature and mental and neurological conditions such as depression and dementia. This systematic review aims to summarize the epidemiological evidence on the effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults, who may be more vulnerable to temperature-related health effects compared to younger individuals. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid/Embase, Web of Science, and Ovid/PsycINFO on July 17, 2023, and updated on July 31, 2024. We included epidemiological studies investigating the association between ambient temperature exposures and numerous mental and neurological conditions in populations aged 60 years and older. Exclusions were made for studies on indoor or controlled exposure, suicide, substance abuse, those not published as peer-reviewed journal articles, or those not written in English. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed using a tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Qualitative synthesis was performed on all eligible studies, and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted on groups of at least four studies sharing similar study design, exposure metric, and health outcome. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) framework modified by the WHO. Results: From 16,786 screened articles, 76 studies were deemed eligible, primarily from mainland China and North America. There was notable heterogeneity in study variables and methodologies. The most commonly used exposure metrics were daily absolute temperature and heat waves, and time-series and case-crossover analyses were the most frequently employed study designs. Meta-analysis of four studies on the effect of a 1 °C increase in temperature on hospital admissions/visits for mental disorders showed a pooled risk ratio (RR) of 1.014 (95 % Confidence Interval, CI: 1.001, 1.026). Comparing heat wave days to non-heat wave days, pooled effect estimates showed increased risk in hospital admissions/visits (RR: 1.269; 95 % CI: 1.030, 1.564; six studies) and mortality related to mental disorders (RR: 1.266; 95 % CI: 0.956, 1.678; four studies). Despite the limited number of studies on cold exposures, they consistently reported that lower temperatures were associated with an increased risk of various mental and neurological conditions. Conclusions: This review presents epidemiological evidence of the adverse impacts of ambient temperature exposures, such as high temperatures and heat waves, on mental and neurological conditions among the older adult population, with overall moderate certainty. The findings highlight the need for greater attention to the mental and neurological health of older adults in the context of climate change and population aging.Registration number (PROSPERO ID): CRD42023428137.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024007529TemperatureHeat waveMental disordersNeurological disordersOlder adultsSystematic review
spellingShingle Garam Byun
Yongsoo Choi
Damien Foo
Rory Stewart
Yimeng Song
Ji-Young Son
Seulkee Heo
Xuejuan Ning
Cassandra Clark
Honghyok Kim
Hayon Michelle Choi
Sera Kim
Soo-Yeon Kim
Kate Burrows
Jong-Tae Lee
Nicole C. Deziel
Michelle L. Bell
Effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Environment International
Temperature
Heat wave
Mental disorders
Neurological disorders
Older adults
Systematic review
title Effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort effects of ambient temperature on mental and neurological conditions in older adults a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Temperature
Heat wave
Mental disorders
Neurological disorders
Older adults
Systematic review
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024007529
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