Khaberni - Published by JCPP are the results of a recent study that revealed a hidden factor that impedes the development of cognitive abilities and perception in children.
The journal referred to the researchers having analyzed data of 19607 children aged between 3 and4 years from Georgia, Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Palestine, and compared them with precise climate measurements for the period from 2017 to 2020. It was found that exposure to heat waves at an early age hinders the child's acquisition of basic cognitive skills.
The results showed that children who regularly live in temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius are less likely to meet growth standards in reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. The impact was more pronounced among children from low-income families, as well as those living in urban areas and homes that lack clean water, factors that intensify the effects of heat.
The researchers explained that heat could affect cognitive development through several concurrent mechanisms, including dehydration, chronic stress, neural inflammation, sleep disorders, and reduced physical activity.
The scientists stressed that the results highlight the urgent need for immediate action, starting from urban environment adaptation to social support, to protect children and ensure their cognitive abilities grow in a world experiencing rapid temperature increases.
