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<blockquote data-quote="MelaninWarlord" data-source="post: 65064" data-attributes="member: 428">It turns out there is a lot more than just &quot;folklore&quot; behind those two concepts. In Australia, &quot;Mango Madness&quot; and the link between extreme heat and cognitive decline are well-documented phenomena that blend cultural observation with serious medical science.Here is the breakdown of how the heat is actually changing our brains.<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="🥭" title="Mango&nbsp; &nbsp; :mango:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f96d.png" data-shortname=":mango:" /> 1. The Reality of &quot;Mango Madness&quot;Commonly used in Northern Australia (specifically Darwin and the Top End), &quot;Mango Madness&quot; or &quot;going troppo&quot; refers to a spike in irritability and erratic behavior during the Build-up (the hot, humid months before the monsoon rains).The Cause: It’s a &quot;perfect storm&quot; of high humidity, oppressive heat, and sleep deprivation. When humidity is high, sweat doesn&#039;t evaporate, so the body can&#039;t cool down.The Symptoms: Increased aggression, hostility, and lower emotional regulation.The Science: Recent studies (like those from the University of Adelaide) show that for every 1^\circ\text{C} rise above average daily temperatures, there is a measurable increase in hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders.<img class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" alt="🧠" title="Brain&nbsp; &nbsp; :brain:" src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f9e0.png" data-shortname=":brain:" /> 2. Extreme Heat and &quot;Lowered IQ&quot;While &quot;lowered IQ&quot; is a simplified term, research confirms that extreme heat causes significant acute cognitive impairment. Your brain essentially diverts energy away from &quot;thinking&quot; to &quot;cooling.&quot;Cognitive Decline: A 2024 analysis found that even short-term exposure (1 hour) to extreme heat can induce a nearly 1% decline in cognitive function.The &quot;32°C Threshold&quot;: Research indicates that when temperatures exceed 32°C (89.6^\circ\text{F}), the &quot;hours proportion&quot; of exposure correlates with a nearly 10% drop in cognitive performance over time.Complex vs. Simple Tasks: Heat hits &quot;High-Level Thinking&quot; (complex math, decision-making, and memory) much harder than simple, repetitive tasks. This is why you might feel &quot;slow&quot; or &quot;foggy&quot; during a heatwave.Comparison: How Heat Impacts the BrainMechanism ResultCognitive Load Brain works harder to maintain homeostasis. Reduced focus and slower reaction times.Neuroinflammation Prolonged heat can cause slight brain inflammation. Increased risk of mood disorders and &quot;brain fog.&quot;Sleep Quality Body cannot reach the lower core temp needed for deep sleep. Memory consolidation fails; irritability spikes.Productivity Every degree above 20^\circ\text{C} (68^\circ\text{F}). 2–3% drop in work output.Is it Permanent?The good news is that most &quot;Mango Madness&quot; and heat-related brain fog are reversible once you cool down. However, for vulnerable groups (the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions), frequent heatwaves are being linked to a higher long-term risk of dementia and chronic mental health struggles.Would you like me to look up some specific tips for &quot;heat-proofing&quot; your home or workspace to keep your focus up during the next Aussie summer</blockquote>

[QUOTE="MelaninWarlord, post: 65064, member: 428"] It turns out there is a lot more than just "folklore" behind those two concepts. In Australia, "Mango Madness" and the link between extreme heat and cognitive decline are well-documented phenomena that blend cultural observation with serious medical science. Here is the breakdown of how the heat is actually changing our brains. 🥭 1. The Reality of "Mango Madness" Commonly used in Northern Australia (specifically Darwin and the Top End), "Mango Madness" or "going troppo" refers to a spike in irritability and erratic behavior during the Build-up (the hot, humid months before the monsoon rains). The Cause: It’s a "perfect storm" of high humidity, oppressive heat, and sleep deprivation. When humidity is high, sweat doesn't evaporate, so the body can't cool down. The Symptoms: Increased aggression, hostility, and lower emotional regulation. The Science: Recent studies (like those from the University of Adelaide) show that for every 1^\circ\text{C} rise above average daily temperatures, there is a measurable increase in hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders. 🧠 2. Extreme Heat and "Lowered IQ" While "lowered IQ" is a simplified term, research confirms that extreme heat causes significant acute cognitive impairment. Your brain essentially diverts energy away from "thinking" to "cooling." Cognitive Decline: A 2024 analysis found that even short-term exposure (1 hour) to extreme heat can induce a nearly 1% decline in cognitive function. The "32°C Threshold": Research indicates that when temperatures exceed 32°C (89.6^\circ\text{F}), the "hours proportion" of exposure correlates with a nearly 10% drop in cognitive performance over time. Complex vs. Simple Tasks: Heat hits "High-Level Thinking" (complex math, decision-making, and memory) much harder than simple, repetitive tasks. This is why you might feel "slow" or "foggy" during a heatwave. Comparison: How Heat Impacts the Brain Mechanism Result Cognitive Load Brain works harder to maintain homeostasis. Reduced focus and slower reaction times. Neuroinflammation Prolonged heat can cause slight brain inflammation. Increased risk of mood disorders and "brain fog." Sleep Quality Body cannot reach the lower core temp needed for deep sleep. Memory consolidation fails; irritability spikes. Productivity Every degree above 20^\circ\text{C} (68^\circ\text{F}). 2–3% drop in work output. Is it Permanent? The good news is that most "Mango Madness" and heat-related brain fog are reversible once you cool down. However, for vulnerable groups (the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions), frequent heatwaves are being linked to a higher long-term risk of dementia and chronic mental health struggles. Would you like me to look up some specific tips for "heat-proofing" your home or workspace to keep your focus up during the next Aussie summer [/QUOTE]

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