Extreme Heat Above 90°F May Harm Young Children’s Brain Development

New York University researcher Jorge Cuartas led a study of nearly 20,000 children aged three and four across six countries, finding those exposed to average temperatures above 32°C (90°F) scored 2-8 percentage points lower on developmental assessments. The research examined children in Georgia, The Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and the State of Palestine. Heat exposure particularly damaged early math and reading skills, with children struggling more to recognize shapes, understand numbers, and identify letters. Poor families faced the heaviest burden, while wealthy households showed some protection from heat effects. Urban children scored 22-27 percentage points lower than expected, likely due to heat island effects where concrete traps warmth. Children without access to clean water showed steeper developmental declines during high heat periods. (Story URL)