We recently had our first week of “proper” springtime weather in my little corner of Ireland: bright sun, no rain (for 10 days!), and, fortunately, a cool breeze. Unfortunately, I was laid up after a recent series of falls, so I couldn’t enjoy it as fully as I’d have liked.
But the change of the seasons brings something a little larger to my mind, as I read of dramatic and disturbingly unseasonable weather phenomena in the past months. From arctic heat waves and wintertime wildfires to “once-in-a-century” floods becoming “once-in-a-decade” events, things are changing in our world.
We might often think of climate changes as affecting others — those living closer to the sea, for example, or in equatorial climes. But a quick look at research published on the topic suggests some emerging concerns for all of us, and for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in particular.
Both Hot and Cold Can Be Problematic for MS
First, “climate change” doesn’t just mean “global warming.” There are places where temperatures are getting colder and wetter (where I live, for instance). So it’s important to understand that both too warm and too cold can create difficulties for people living with MS.
Next, when and how our relapses occur, the severity of them, and our recovery from them are being studied as they relate to changing weather patterns. In this 2025 study, researchers reported on “high temperature, low humidity, and variable atmospheric pressure as potential contributors” to relapses — not just pseudoexacerbations, or temporary symptom worsening.
Research Shows Some Serious Consequences
When researchers have dug into the details of how temperature and weather affect people with MS, they’ve found some serious and costly effects:
- One study found that warmer outdoor temperature can cause a decline in cognitive function.
- Another study found that anomalously — or unexpectedly — warm weather resulted in more emergency department and hospital inpatient visits.
But overall, this is an understudied bit of the MS puzzle, according to the authors of one study, and I think it’s something that all of us with MS — maybe in particular the younger cohort of our community — should realize is part of our future.
The Time to Prepare Is Now
Our climate is changing, says the World Meteorological Organization. It’s likely this will have a detrimental impact on people living with multiple sclerosis, according to a 2025 review — no matter where they live.
It’s time for healthcare professionals — and all of us — to start creating disaster readiness and response plans to deal with extreme weather events, says a team of researchers in the International Journal of MS Care.
Wishing you and your family the best of health.
Cheers,
Trevis
