Extreme temperatures linked to increased ED visits, EAN Congress hears

European Academy of Neurology Annual Congress presents findings on dementia, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis

Exposure to extreme heat and cold is associated with an increased risk of emergency department (ED) visits among people living with dementia, according to preliminary research presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2026.

Taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 27 to 30, the meeting brought together neurologists, scientists, educators, and healthcare professionals from around the world will discuss the latest developments in neurology.

On the final day of the Congress, delegates heard new research findings which showed how our changing climate is placing increased pressures on emergency medical care.

Italian researchers analysed ED visits recorded between 2015 and 2024 among 13,680 people with dementia and 2,755 people with Parkinson’s disease living in the municipality of Bologna.

The analysis found that exposure to both extreme heat and extreme cold was associated with increased ED visits among people with dementia. Exposure to extreme heat (approximately 29.7 degrees Celsius) was associated with an 11 per cent increase in ED visits within the first three days following exposure.

Exposure to extreme cold (approximately 1.5°C) was associated with a delayed increase in risk, reaching 14 per cent around ten days after exposure.

However, among people with Parkinson’s, there was no clear evidence that extreme temperatures increased ED visits.

“In both hot and cold conditions, we observed evidence that extreme temperatures may accelerate health events that would otherwise have occurred later,” said lead author Dr Luca Vignatelli. “This concentration of healthcare demand may have organisational implications for health services.”

He added: “The difference in risk trends following exposure to extreme temperatures between dementia and Parkinson’s disease is only partly surprising, as it underscores the fact that these two conditions are underpinned by two distinct disease processes, even though they are broadly grouped together under the umbrella of neurodegenerative diseases.”

The EAN Congress also heard findings from the United States, which suggest that Women with Parkinson’s disease may be more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain than men.

An analysis of data from 230 autopsy-confirmed Parkinson’s disease cases found that women with Parkinson’s disease had significantly greater amyloid plaque burden – a hallmark feature of Alzheimer’s disease – than men.

Lead author Dr Erika Driver-Dunckley of Mayo Clinic Arizona said: “These findings suggest that women may be more susceptible to amyloid-driven pathology in the context of Parkinson’s disease, echoing patterns observed in clinically diagnosed and pathologically confirmed Alzheimer’s disease subjects.”

Despite the greater amyloid plaque burden observed in women, the study found no significant differences between men and women in rates of Alzheimer’s dementia or performance on cognitive testing.

Dr Driver-Dunckley explained: “Men and women with Parkinson’s disease had similar rates of Alzheimer’s dementia and similar results on cognitive testing. However, women showed a higher amyloid plaque burden compared with men.”

The findings raise questions about both the relationship between brain pathology and cognitive outcomes, as well as the biological mechanisms underlying the observed sex differences.

“The greater severity of amyloid plaque pathology in women should have an effect on the onset and severity of cognitive impairment, but our study did not find this,” said Dr Driver-Dunckley. “It may be that a larger study would pick up cognitive differences related to the increased plaque load.”

The impacts of multiple sclerosis (MS) was the topic of a survey of patient experiences carried out by researchers in Link Campus University, Rome, and presented to the EAN Congress.

A nationwide questionnaire-based study involving 1,039 adults with MS highlighted the effects of the disease on education, work, financial resources and social life.

Social life emerged as the most commonly affected domain, with 51 per cent of participants reporting an impact, followed by work (48 per cent), financial resources (34 per cent) and education (19 per cent).

People experiencing financial difficulties, being out of work or retired early, additional health conditions or greater levels of disability were more likely to report impacts across multiple domains. The strongest associations were identified between work and social life and between work and financial resources. Economic strain and disability were associated with all secondary outcomes examined in the study.

Lead author Dr Marta Ponzano said: “Our data show that multiple domains of life are substantially affected by MS beyond physical health, particularly social life and work.

“Importantly, the greatest burden falls on individuals who are socioeconomically and medically more vulnerable, with disability emerging as a key driver of disadvantage.”

She added: “Taken together, these findings highlight the need for a more comprehensive, person-centred approach to MS care. We do not treat only MS, but the person living with MS. That means recognising and addressing the impact of the disease on daily functioning, employment, social participation and overall wellbeing, not just its physical symptoms.”