A new study conducted in China sheds light on the consequences of extreme weather-related temperatures. Researchers discovered that individuals experiencing more extremely hot or cold days were more likely to report depressive symptoms. As climate change has exposed more individuals to extreme temperatures, this research can help communities and clinicians recognize potential environmental triggers for depression. ...

Maybe the causality is backwards and depression causes heatwaves

  • Lester_Peterson [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Exposure to extreme heat or cold conditions can impact autonomic function, leading to prolonged imbalances that can trigger chronic low-level inflammation, which may cause depression. Humidity may also contribute to this relationship by impairing the body’s ability to regulate temperature, which can worsen the effects of extreme heat on the mental health of susceptible individuals.

    Moreover, high nighttime temperatures can interfere with the body’s circadian rhythms, causing excessive Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis activity and leading to further mental health issues.

    Haven't read the paper itself, but I'm skeptical that these explanations are the sole reason for the causation. I feel they go too far into the "all mental health problems = inbalance of chemicals in the body" side of things. Maybe one reason why those living in areas with extreme temperature have higher rates of depression, is as simple a reason as them likely not going outside as much, particularly for leisure.

    • hexaflexagonbear [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      I think the circadian rhythm one is an overly complex way of saying it leads to sleep deprivation. I can totally see that leading to mood changes over time.

      • Lester_Peterson [he/him]
        ·
        2 years ago

        I agree, though I feel its a potentially unintuitive way of saying it in a pop-sci journal targeted at the general public. If you tell most people that high temperatures makes their body produce excessive "Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal," they won't have a great frame of reference for what you mean, and how that might cause them to feel symptoms of depression.

        But you can tell anyone that high temperatures can keep them up at night, and cause them to feel miserable the next day, and I think they'll both fully understand what your saying and probably find it pretty applicable to their own experiences. I fully understand the need for scientific terms in professional contexts, but in an article like this good communication means getting things across in clear language that their audience understands.

        • hexaflexagonbear [he/him]
          ·
          2 years ago

          though I feel its a potentially unintuitive way of saying it in a pop-sci journal targeted at the general public

          I think you clicked through to the academic paper.

      • notceps [he/him]
        ·
        2 years ago

        I don't think so in this instance it probably is saying that the high temperature leads to a mismatch between the 'local circadian time' of a part of the body and the 'master clock' in the brain. Mismatches have proven to exist and to cause chemical imbalance in our body for example eating windows and it's effect on our body in respect to blood sugars. I even wrote about that one a couple of months back on hexbear if it's still there. I could totally see that a mismatch can cause that and doing tests between people with a conditioned vs unconditioned room could be interesting to look at. Also circadian rhythm is still fairly new grounds I think the knowledge that 'local' circadian clocks exist is only about a decade old.