Effects of heat acclimatization on cerebral blood flow distribution and cognitive function

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19619
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Osaka Electro-Communication University
• Principal Investigator: OTA Akemi 大阪電気通信大学, 医療健康科学部, 教授 (70360732)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 暑熱順化 / 脳血流 / 認知機能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cognitive decline in high temperature environments is known to be dependent on the degree of temperature elevation and cognitive difficulty, and the limited cognitive resources available for cognitive tasks in high temperature environments is thought to be a contributing factor to cognitive decline. In addition, high temperature decreases cerebral blood flow, a factor that impairs neural circuits and cognitive processing in the brain. In this study, we examined whether heat acclimatization improves cognitive function by increasing cerebral blood flow and cognitive resources. These results indicate that heat acclimatization does not alter cerebral blood flow or cognitive resources under either normothermic or hyperthermic conditions. Further studies are needed to clarify these findings.

Free Research Field

環境生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

暑熱環境下においては，めまいや失神の発生が高くなる。暑熱環境下でも認知資源量を維持できれば，適切な判断や行動を可能にすることにつながる。本研究の結果は，暑熱環境下で生じる事故防止に役立つ重要な基礎データとなる。気候変動による熱波が頻発し，暑熱環境下で日常生活を送り、働く機会が増加すると考えられ、社会的な意義は高いといえる。