Pollution and Dementia Risk: New Study Links Exposure
- As the baby boomers age and the global population grows older, dementia rates are rising.
- New research suggests that the quality of the air we breathe also has a notable impact on our cognitive health.
- The journal article is the most extensive review to date of the relationship between long-term air pollution exposure and dementia risk.
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Air Pollution and Dementia Risk: A Growing Concern
Table of Contents
The Rising Tide of Dementia and the Role of Environmental Factors
As the baby boomers age and the global population grows older, dementia rates are rising. Increasingly, we hear wellness advice focused on protecting cognitive health, including eating brain-healthy foods, exercising, managing stress and engaging with others.
New research suggests that the quality of the air we breathe also has a notable impact on our cognitive health. A systematic review published earlier this year in The Lancet Planetary Health finds that exposure to outdoor air pollution significantly increases the risk of developing dementia.
The Most Extensive Review to Date
The journal article is the most extensive review to date of the relationship between long-term air pollution exposure and dementia risk. It compiles data from 51 studies conducted in high-income countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia, involving nearly 30 million participants.
Based on a complex statistical analysis, the researchers estimate that approximately 3 percent of dementia cases could potentially be prevented by eliminating air pollution exposure.
Geographical Variations in Dementia Risk
And they found that geography matters. For example, the data suggest that dementia risk would be approximately 9 percent lower in a city like Edinburgh compared with London, purely based on air pollution differences.
Key Pollutants and Thier Impact
Researchers found three main sources of air pollution that affect cognitive health:
- Fine particulate matter (PM2.5): Primarily from vehicle exhaust.
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2): Released from