Extreme heat reduces literacy and numeracy skills in young children.

Studies are increasingly showing that rising temperatures due to climate change are negatively impacting human health.

A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry has delved into the impact of extreme heat on child development, finding that children who are frequently exposed to high temperatures experience learning disabilities.

A growing body of scientific evidence has previously linked high temperatures to poor physical and mental health. For example, a 2021 study found that heat can impair adolescents’ ability to learn and perform poorly on tests.

Researchers also noted that temperatures above 32°C were associated with a nearly 10% reduction in cognitive function in adults and accelerated cognitive decline.

In addition, climate change also has indirect impacts through reducing crop yields when temperatures exceed 34°C, affecting child nutrition - a key factor for development.

However, evidence regarding the impact of high ambient temperatures on foundational development skills in early childhood remains limited. To shed light on this issue, the research team analyzed data from 19,607 children aged 3 to 4 years in Georgia, Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Palestine between 2017 and 2020.

Children's developmental data are compared with high-resolution temperature data from where they live.

The results showed that children exposed to average maximum temperatures above 32°C were less likely to meet developmental standards in literacy and numeracy skills. This impact was most severe for children from economically disadvantaged households, living in urban areas, or in places lacking access to clean water and sanitation.

The authors explain that excessively high temperatures affect cognitive development through multiple direct and indirect mechanisms, including dehydration, activation of the stress response system, neuroinflammation, neuronal damage due to inadequate heat dissipation, and sleep disturbances.

At the same time, hot weather also causes children to reduce physical activity, increase passive behavior, and limit opportunities for social interaction outside.

The research results emphasize the urgency of developing policies and interventions to protect the development of children – the future generation – in the context of global warming./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nang-nong-cuc-doan-lam-giam-kha-nang-doc-viet-va-tinh-toan-o-tre-nho-post1082086.vnp