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Spring/Summer 2025
Yes, much is happening. After 2023 was the hottest year on record, possibly with El Nino influence, 2024 turned out to be even hotter and the pattern appears to persist in 2025. With events like the wildfires in Los Angeles in January and rapid changes in our country away from climate health solutions this year, we can feel overwhelmed. However, our support for a healthier climate future is unwavering.
There’s no getting around the fact that actions in Washington DC have been and will continue to be a setback for progress on climate health. Our response is to do everything in our power to resist these changes. In this newsletter, we will focus on holding our values high and working around these changes.
Topics in this newsletter include the excellent talks at AAN, our pending interactions with AAN, our reasons to be optimistic, upcoming events, and actions you can take. And, of course, publicizing our upcoming webinar with Dr Lisa Patel on Thursday, May 29, at 12N ET.
NICHe
Co-Founders,
Bret Andrews, DO ~ Larry Junck, MD ~ Beth Malow, MD, FAAN ~ Ali Saad, MD, FAAN
NICHe Talks at AAN
Our session entitled Climate Change and Brain Health: What Do We Know and What Can We Do?, with talks by Ali Saad, Larry Junck, and Beth Malow was well received. This session was attended by 96 with 28 more in AAN Rewind.
Beth Malow also gave and excellent talk in the Frontiers in Neurology plenary session, entitled Impact of Climate Change on Global Brain Health, attended by over 1,800.
Among her important points: o Climate change is serious and human-caused. o Air pollution is an important risk factor for stroke, dementia, and autism spectrum disorder. o Other consequences of climate change include direct heat effects, vector-borne infections. o Neurologists can take many actions, best done by joining organizations.
NICHe Quarterly Meeting
Lisa Patel MD, Executive Director MSCCH will be at our Quarterly Meeting this Thursday!
Thursday, May 29, 12 N ET: “Climate Conversations for Clinicians: Addressing Doubts, Taking Action, and Managing Burnout“ Our second Quarterly Meeting will be a roundtable webinar on climate advocacy featuring Dr Lisa Patel, Executive Director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health. Bring your challenging questions. Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89783872301?pwd=jux4Oiqtnpa15W1KVDG5ow4cYeE2GE.1 Meeting ID: 897 8387 2301, Passcode: 604913
Upcoming Events:
· NICHe is revisiting potential AAN leadership actions, including issuing a position statement on climate change, joining the Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health (MSCCH), and increasing AAN educational content on climate change.
· July 14, 1-2:15 ET: "Climate Change, Air Pollution, and Dementia" Neuro Climate Working Group. Talk by Ali Saad and Larry Junck Link pending
· June 6, 2025, 9:15 - 10:15 am MT: "Wildfires, Climate Change and Brain Health" (Bret Andrews) Neurology Grand Rounds, University of Calgary Link Pending
· Wednesday, Sept 3, 2-3 PM ET: "Neurological Consequences of Climate Change" ECHO Institute of Albuquerque, NM. (Bret Andrews and Larry Junck) Link pending
County level mortality attributed to climate change related wildfire PM2.5
Microplastic inclusions in brain and CNS vessels
Recent Publications
Law BE, et al. Anthropogenic climate change contributes to wildfire particulate matter and related mortality in the United States [Communcs Earth Environ, 05/2/25] https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02314-0
Delaney SW, et al. Extreme Heat and Hospitalization Among Older Persons With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias [JAMA Netw, 02/3/25] DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.7719
Kono M, et al. Impact of rapid temperature fluctuations on acute stroke risk: a nationwide case-crossover study from 2001 to 2020 [Lancet, 4/2025 ] DOI:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101546
Bennitt FB, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of household air pollution, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 [Lancet, 04/5/2025] DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02840-X
Nihart AJ, et al. Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Brains/Livers/Kidneys [Nature Medicine,2/2025] DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03453-1
Li Y, et al. Long-Term Intake of Red Meat in Relation to Dementia Risk and Cognitive Function in US Adults. [Neurology, 1/15/25] DOI:10.1212/WNL.0000000000210286
Gao Y. et al. Heat Exposure and Dementia-Related Mortality in China. [JAMA Netw Open, 06/3/24] DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.19250
Zhu X, et al. Hourly Heat Exposure and Acute Ischemic Stroke [JAMA Netw Open, 02/2024] DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0627
Some Reasons for Optimism:
· Clean energy is increasing in the US and worldwide and will continue to increase despite the recent headwinds from Washington DC.
· People across the political spectrum have climate change concern and support climate actions through organizations like Citizens Climate Lobby, Interfaith Power & Light and the Climate Reality Project.
· The new pope, Leo XIV, has spoken out about the urgency of climate action, urging the world to move "from words to action".
· There is ongoing effort and success at the local and state level in advancing sustainable energy.
· Professor Katherine Hayhoe's weekly newsletter includes sections on Good News and What You Can Do at https://www.talkingclimate.ca/
See more below
How clean energy is increasing:
· Clean electricity has increased to 41% of global power generation worldwide, driven especially by increases in solar energy.
· China's solar electricity generation jumped by 45% in 2024 to 10% of total electricity capacity. Renewables are now 55% of total electricity generation, surpassing coal.
· US solar and wind energy increased in 2024 to 17% of total electricity generation surpassing coal. US solar capacity is expected to jump over 30% this year.
· 54% of California's electricity is renewable and California had 100% renewable energy supplying power for at least part of 100 days in 2024.
· In China, 2/3 of EV cars are cheaper to buy than their gas powered equivalents.
Local and state efforts and successes:
·Many localities are pushing for cleaner outdoor and indoor air through building electrification and requirements for zero emissions appliances like heat pumps for space and water heating and electric stoves. In March 2025, NY City overcame legal challenges and can start implementing zero emission appliance rules for new construction.
· Numerous states, counties, and cities have climate action plans. Twenty-four states plus the District of Columbia have adopted specific greenhouse gas emissions targets.
· In 2024, Vermont and New York passed Climate Superfund legislation and California has a similar bill now in the legislature supported by a coalition including climate health justice organizations . These bills hold major fossil fuel companies accountable for the health and environmental damages caused by their emissions, which includes addressing the health burdens associated with climate change. This funding is intended to alleviate the financial burden on taxpayers and support community resilience against climate-related health issues.
· Climatechangemakers.org explains how there is significant opportunity with actions at the state and local level.
· Here are some other examples of State and Local Action
Quick Advocacy Links:
Ways To Get Involved:
As a Citizen
· Join an organizations advocating action on climate change.
· As Professor Katherine Hayhoe recommends, talk about climate change and its health consequences (including stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease from air pollution) with your colleagues, family, and friends. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter at https://www.talkingclimate.ca/.
· Emphasize actions on climate change at the local and state levels.
· Let your Congressperson know of you concern about climate change, especially because of its health consequences; this is especially important for Republicans. Better yet, join an organization that lobbies your state legislature or Congress on climate change.
· Target your most impactful sustainability measures at home using Project Drawdown's Suggestions
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, wearing a mask directly exposed to high air pollution, using a home air purifier as possible.
· 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) of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health to engage clinicians in your area
· If you work with residents, fellows, or students, make sure they are receiving education on climate change and its neuro consequences.
· 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, also requests to publicize your events: bretdandrews@gmail.com
