Impact of Climate Change on Older Adults

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Provides a systematic review of climate change impacts on older adults' health, identifying research gaps.

🏛政策担当者:Highlights the need for targeted adaptation strategies for older populations in climate policy.

Abstract: Background: Climate change represents one of the main global threats to public health. The progressive increase in average temperatures and the greater frequency of extreme weather events expose the population to significant physical, psychological, social, and economic risks. The older population appears particularly vulnerable because of the physiological changes and sociocultural conditions associated with the aging process. Aim: This work (1) investigates the main effects of rising temperatures and extreme weather events on the health of older adults; (2) identifies specific risk factors for this age group; (3) identifies prevention and coping strategies that account for the peculiarities of the aging process. Methods: We conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA criteria, performing a search in the Ebsco PsycINFO, Scopus and MEDLINE PubMed databases from 2007 to March 2024. Results: The content analysis of the articles identified seven areas of interest: (1) the physiological factors affecting mental health, (2) the psychological impact, (3) suicidal behavior, (4) demographic factors, (5) psychosocial factors, (6) protective factors, and (7) psychoeducational programs and coping strategies. Discussion: The results highlight significant effects on physical, mental, and social health, mediated by factors such as social isolation, socioeconomic conditions, and demographic characteristics. Among the studies examined, methodological issues emerge, including the heterogeneity of psychometric instruments, the lack of measurement standardization, and the insufficient integration of subjective and objective data. Intergenerational conflict and climate ageism can hinder the implementation of preventive and adaptation strategies. Conclusion: The study highlights a complex relationship between climate change and the health of older people, highlighting methodological and political gaps in the protection of their rights and needs. In particular, the heterogeneity of research designs and measures across studies limits the comparability and generalizability of their findings, underscoring the need for more standardized approaches in future research.

• semanticscholar https://doi.org/10.1024/1662-9647/a000357first seen 2026-06-29 08:44:58