( Economy India ): A new study has found that exposure to high temperatures during pregnancy and early infancy may slow the growth of the thalamus—the part of the brain responsible for processing and relaying information.
Published in the journal Environment International, the research highlights that rising temperatures caused by climate change could have long-term effects on children’s brain development.
Researchers observed that children exposed to extreme heat during the earliest stages of life showed slower development of the thalamus later in childhood. The findings suggest that the prenatal period and the first months after birth are especially sensitive to environmental factors such as heat.
As global temperatures continue to rise, scientists say protecting pregnant women and infants from prolonged heat exposure could become an important public health priority. More research is needed to better understand how climate-related heat affects brain growth and cognitive development.
( Economy India )
