Seek Shelter — Heat Stroke and Cognitive Impairment 

July 23, 2018

A heat wave is upon us in San Antonio this week, with temperatures climbing into the triple digits. When heat strikes, that primordial part of our brain screams for us to get shelter and cool off, and for good reason. We all know that heat stroke, and even heat exhaustion, are dangerous conditions and a real risk for anyone living in Texas, with small children and the elderly being the most vulnerable. But we are now learning that the effects of hyperthermia, overheating of the body, can have a lasting impact.  

In a paper published by The National Center for Biotechnology Information, it discerned that “hyperthermia, even if mild and only occurring for a short period, may cause cognitive impairment.” It further explained that, “In a few cases, this may be permanent. Hyperthermia has been shown to adversely affect attention, memory, and processing of information acutely.” This type of cognitive impairment may occur after exposure to even modest hot temperatures, and for shorter periods of time than previously believed.  

In this study, the majority of cases do fully recover from acute cognitive dysfunction. However, some are left with persistent changes in attention, memory and personality. The condition may be mild or severe, depending on the degree of exposure to classic heat stroke. “In one series of patients admitted to the ICU with classic heat stroke after a heatwave, 33 % had significant neurological impairment, and 33 % of patients had mild impairment at discharge. Only 24 % of patients had no neurological impairment.” However, the individuals in this study were not followed for a long period of time and it is thought that the persistent neurological effects may affect 50% of the patients who survive a heat stroke episode.  

Of most interest to us here at Kennedy Sutherland LLP, especially when it comes to will contests, though rare, are the instances of frontal dysfunction.  The frontal lobe is the essential part of our brain that is instrumental in decision making. We will discuss this further in a future blog post, but this is the location where executive functions are formed, such as planning for the future, judgement, decision making skills, attention span and inhibition. When the frontal lobe is damaged, these functions are greatly compromised. While heat exposure and soccer may not have an obvious connection, read our recent blog “A-Head of the Science” to learn how headers may also lead to various forms of dementia.

So while the temperature soars, it’s important to take heed and limit outdoor activity during the hottest times of the day and take shelter in a cool spot. It’s also a good idea to check in with those in your family and community that are elderly to make sure they have proper precaution and provisions during this heat spell. The lesson of the day is to take shelter and stay cool!   

 Source:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4944502/ 

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