NICHe Quarterly Newsletter
Happy Winter 2025
There has been much change since our last newsletter in November 2024. Last year, awareness of climate change’s impact on health and brain health gained traction in major medical societies, journals, and media outlets. However, the recent national changes in the U.S. government have had profound effects including at the local government and academic levels, creating strong headwinds against further progress. The words climate change have now become a political target.
While these words have been politicized, our message and mission remain the same—and they are not political. We remain focused on building healthy communities. We know that common-sense policies centered on health, including the transition to clean energy, will create a better future. Communication should emphasize health and bridge divides.
For now, working locally will be the most impactful. Supporting each other through the challenges ahead is essential.
Below, you’ll find NICHe’s winter quarter updates, ways to get involved, and upcoming events—including our First Quarterly Meeting on February 26.
The NICHe Founders,
Bret Andrews, DO ~ Larry Junck, MD ~ Beth Malow, MD, FAAN ~ Ali Saad, MD, FAAN
NICHe Quarterly Meeting
February 26 2025, 1PM EST
Presentation: Climate Change Effect on Global Neurological Infectious Diseases Monica Diaz, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, MS/ Neuroimmunology at UNC, and Vice Chair of AAN Global Health Section
We will also discuss what neurologists can do and how to pursue climate change advocacy in this time of great change.
Meeting ID: 862 2361 7297
Password: 268011
Upcoming Events
- April 7 2025 11AM PT
- Course C100 at the AAN Annual Meeting 2025 Climate Change and Brain Health: What Do We Know and What Can We Do (NICHe)
- Register for AAN 2025
- April 9 2025 9:55 to 10:15AM PT
- Plenary Session PL6 Frontiers in Neuroscience Plenary Session at AAN Annual Meeting - Impact of Climate Change on Global Brain Health (Beth Malow, MD, FAAN)
- Register for AAN 2025
- March 1-4 2025
- Our Planet, Our Health: Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health Annual Convention in Washington DC (Virtual slots only now)
- Virtual Registration
- If you have an event that you would like NICHe to feature, contact: bretdandrews@gmail.com
Recent Publications
- When smoke clouds the mind: Exploring the headache consequences of the 2023 Canadian wildfires. Headache. 02/2025
- doi: 10.1111/head.14908
- Wildfire Exposure and Incident Dementia. JAMA Neurology 11/2024 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.4058
- Airborne ultrafine particle concentrations and brain cancer incidence in Canada’s two largest cities. Environment International 10/2024 doi:10.1016/j.envint.2024.109088
- Ambient Temperature and Stroke Risk Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years: A Case-Crossover Study. Journal of American College of Cardiology 10/2024 doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2024.08.058
- Extreme Temperatures and Stroke Mortality: Evidence From a Multi-Country Analysis. Stroke 7/2024 https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.045751
- Mortality caused by tropical cyclones in the United States. Nature 10/2024 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07945-5
- Huang K, et al. Joint Exposure to Ambient Air Pollutants, Genetic Risk, and Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Analysis in UK Biobank. Stroke 02/2024 https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.044935
- Adapting the Planetary Health Report Card for Graduate Medical Training Programs. J Grad Med Educ 12/2024 https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-24-00065.1
Recorded Webinars/ Podcasts
- Climate Change, the Climate Crisis and What Physicians Can Do (Bret Andrews) University of British Columbia Neurology Grand Rounds [01/29/25]
- Medscape interview - The Risks of Wildfires Include Dementia and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases (Kathrin LaFaver, MD; Indu Subramanian, MD) [01/17/25]
- Healthy Climate America Lisa Patel MD, Executive Director at the Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health, interviews health professionals, policymakers, communicators, and those in other advocacy roles on climate health.
Ways To Get Involved
As a Citizen
- Target your most impactful sustainability measures at home using Project Drawdown's Suggestions
- As Professor Katherine Hayhoe recommends, talk about climate change and its health consequences (including those from air pollution) with your colleagues, family, and friends. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter at https://www.talkingclimate.ca/
- Work with communities you are a part of or are drawn to. Eco America allows you to connect through healthcare, faith-based organizations, and other groups:
As a Clinician
- For patients with stroke and dementia, consider measures to minimize particulate exposure, e.g. minimizing time on or near major roadways, avoiding wildfire smoke. Air pollution and wildfire smoker are now established risk factors for both.
- Assess whether patients with disabilities and elders have the ability to protect themselves from extreme heat and other extreme weather events.
- Join your state chapter (or start one) at the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health to engage clinicians in your area
- Work within your health system to decrease its carbon footprint. In the US, healthcare accounts for 8.5% of greenhouse gas production.
- Reach out to NICHe with ideas for collaboration, requests to publicize events you’re leading/participating in: bretdandrews@gmail.com
