Weather Impact on Brain Function
Q: Does weather impact brain function in any way?
A: Weather definitely can and does impact brain function. In fact, entire books have been written on how weather impacts human brains. One study of 16,400 individuals evaluated 19 aspects of weather variables including sunny, overcast, rain, snow, wind speed, and chill, and correlated data with mental health distress. While people may prefer differing types of weather, researchers found only one weather variable that impacted mental health distress—the number of daylight hours between sunrise and sunset. Not all brains react the same way to shorter daylight hours. Seasonal affective disorder or SAD, better known now as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) seasonally related, may be experienced by brains that are sensitive to shorter daylight hours. MDD is much more common in Alaska and areas above the arctic Circle than in sunny California or Florida. Fortunately, light therapy can bring “natural sunlight” indoors, especially during the winter months, and can help weather-sensitive brains experience healthier mental health.