Heat exposure slows thalamus growth

A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and published in Environment International found that exposure to high temperatures during pregnancy and early infancy is associated with slower growth of the thalamus later in childhood. The study analyzed data from 3,251 children in the Generation R Study in the Netherlands, using high-resolution climate models and brain MRI scans at ages 10 and 14. The thalamus, a brain region acting as a relay center, showed consistent vulnerability to heat exposure from conception to five months after birth. Slower thalamic growth was linked to behavioral symptoms in adolescence but not cognitive performance. The findings highlight potential long-term neurological impacts of climate change.