Exposure to extreme heat and cold significantly increases emergency department visits among people living with dementia, according to preliminary research presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2026.
Researchers from the IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna analyzed emergency records from 2015 to 2024, covering 13,680 individuals with dementia in the Bologna municipality.
Extreme heat, around 29.7°C, was tied to an 11% rise in emergency visits within three days. This risk climbed to 19% among patients aged 70 to 90. Near-freezing cold of 1.5°C produced a delayed effect, peaking at a 14% rise roughly 10 days later.
Lead author Dr. Luca Vignatelli noted that cognitive impairment likely limits the perception of environmental risk and the uptake of protective behaviors. He proposed two potential biological routes to harm: acute physiological stress on frail bodies, and the less certain possibility that temperature extremes directly accelerate neurodegenerative disease mechanisms.
No clear association emerged for Parkinson’s disease, though a possible heat-related trend warrants further study. The authors called for proactive measures including accessible climate shelters, telemedicine, and efforts to reduce social isolation to shield vulnerable patients.