Brain's White Matter Affected by Early Life Temperature Variations, Study Finds
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New research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that children and fetuses exposed to hot and cold environments impact their brain's white matter, responsible for connecting various brain regions and enabling communication.
Researchers said that children are especially vulnerable to extreme environments as their bodies' temperature regulation processes are still immature. They also found that early exposure could have lasting effects on the microstructure of white matter in the brain.
"We know that the developing brain of fetuses and children is particularly susceptible to environmental exposures, and there is some preliminary evidence suggesting that exposure to cold and heat may affect mental well-being and cognitive performance in children and adolescents. However, there is a lack of evidence with regards to how such exposure can bring about structural changes in the brain," said lead researcher Monica Guxens.
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