Air Pollution Confirmed as Major Dementia Risk Factor in Global Study

Air Pollution Confirmed as Major Dementia Risk Factor in Global Study
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A comprehensive global analysis of data from nearly 30 million individuals has definitively confirmed air pollution as a significant risk factor for dementia, Earth.com reported. The groundbreaking research highlights that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and soot, primarily originating from vehicle exhaust, substantially increases the risk of developing both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

The study, led by the University of Cambridge’s Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit and synthesizing findings from 51 studies across multiple continents, reveals a clear correlation: for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) increase in PM2.5, the relative risk of dementia rises by 17 percent. Similarly, a 10 μg/m³ increase in NO₂ is associated with a three percent rise, and a 1 μg/m³ increase in soot corresponds to a 13 percent heightened risk.

Researchers suggest that air pollution may adversely affect the brain through mechanisms such as inflammation and oxidative stress, either directly or indirectly via the bloodstream. The study also points to an existing equity gap in current research, with most studies concentrated in high-income countries and predominantly white populations, despite marginalized communities often bearing a disproportionate burden of pollution exposure. The authors stress the critical need for an interdisciplinary approach, integrating urban planning, environmental policy, and transportation strategies, to effectively mitigate air pollution and alleviate the global burden of dementia.