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Climate Change Increases Health Risks, But Healthy Lifestyles Show Benefits

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A new report from researchers at Tongji University in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, has revealed the complex relationship between climate change and lifestyles on disability, depression, and cognitive decline in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. The study, published in the Journal of Global Health, found that the health risks from climate change are increasing, but the benefits of healthy lifestyles are evident. The research examined a national cohort from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study from 2011-2018, analyzing the effects of climate extremes on disability, depression, and cognitive decline under different healthy lifestyle conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 1097 out of 5161 participants suffered disability, and 1181 developed depression during the 51.76 and 52.79 months follow-up period.
  • A significant interaction was observed between lifestyle and specific climate extreme indexes in three outcomes (disability, depression, and cognitive decline) respectively (all P < 0.05).
  • The study found that 19.53% of participants were in the unfavourable lifestyle group, and 57.70% were in the average lifestyle group.
  • The research concluded that the study may have important implications for making policies and adaptive strategies to reduce relevant risks to health, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
  • The study's findings suggest that healthy lifestyles can mitigate the negative effects of climate change on mental and physical health.
  • The research involved a collaboration between researchers from Tongji University, Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital, and the School of Medicine at Tongji University.

Statistics:

  • 5161 participants were included in the study.
  • 19.53% of participants were in the unfavourable lifestyle group.
  • 57.70% of participants were in the average lifestyle group.
  • 51.76 and 52.79 months follow-up period.
  • 1097 participants suffered disability, and 1181 developed depression during the follow-up period.
  • 3 outcomes (disability, depression, and cognitive decline) showed a significant interaction between lifestyle and specific climate extreme indexes (all P < 0.05).

Sources:

  • The effect of climate extremes on disability, depression, and cognitive decline in middle-aged and older Chinese adults under different healthy lifestyle. Journal of Global Health, 2025;15:04266.
  • Int Soc Global Health, Caledonian Exchange, 19A Canning St, Edinburgh, Lothian, England.
  • Hui Liu, Clinical Center for Intelligent Rehabilitation Research, Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
  • NewsRx. Researchers at Tongji University Have Reported New Data on Climate Change (The effect of climate extremes on disability, depression, and cognitive decline in middle-aged and older Chinese adults under different healthy lifestyle). Global Warming Focus. October 20, 2025; p 440.

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