The journal noted that the researchers analyzed data from 19,607 children aged 3 to 4 years from Georgia, Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Palestine, and compared it with accurate climate measurements for the period from 2017 to 2020. It was found that exposure to heat waves at an early age hinders a child's acquisition of basic cognitive skills.
The results showed that children who regularly live in temperatures exceeding 32°C are less likely to meet developmental standards in reading, writing, and numeracy skills. The effect was most pronounced among children from low-income families, as well as those living in urban areas and homes lacking clean water—factors that exacerbate the effects of heat.
The researchers explained that heat may affect cognitive development through several concurrent mechanisms, including dehydration, chronic stress, neurological inflammation, sleep disturbances, and reduced physical activity.
Scientists stressed that the findings highlight the urgent need for immediate action, from adapting the urban environment to providing social support, to protect children and ensure the development of their cognitive abilities in a world experiencing rapidly rising temperatures.
