Air Pollution Directly Linked to Worsening alzheimer’s Disease, New Research Shows
PHILADELPHIA – Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) is not only associated with an increased risk of dementia, but also demonstrably worsens the severity of Alzheimer’s disease and its underlying neuropathology, according to a new study published September 8 in JAMA Neurology. The findings add critical weight to growing concerns about the environmental factors impacting brain health and suggest a direct pathway through which air pollution accelerates cognitive decline.
The research, utilizing data from over 600 autopsy cases spanning two decades, reveals a significant correlation between higher PM2.5 exposure and more severe Alzheimer’s disease neuropathologic change (ADNC). This has profound implications for public health, particularly in urban areas and regions with high levels of air pollution, where millions are at increased risk. Understanding this link is crucial as the global population ages and the prevalence of dementia continues to rise, prompting a search for modifiable risk factors beyond genetics and lifestyle.
Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania analyzed data from 602 autopsy cases collected between 1999 and 2022 at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research brain Bank. The cases included individuals with common forms of dementia, movement disorders, and older controls without diagnosed conditions. they found that individuals with higher PM2.5 exposure prior to death had a 19% increased odds of more severe ADNC (odds ratio, 1.19; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.11 to 1.28).
Further analysis of 287 cases with Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) assessments showed a direct link between PM2.5 exposure and greater cognitive and functional impairment (β = 0.48). The study also determined that ADNC mediated 63 percent of the association between higher PM2.5 exposure and increased impairment (β = 0.30).
“This study shows that air pollution doesn’t just increase the risk of dementia – it actually makes Alzheimer disease worse,” explained Dr. Edward B. Lee, coauthor of the study, in a statement. “As researchers continue to search for new treatments, it’s vital to uncover all of the factors that contribute to the disease, including the influence of the surroundings in which they live.”
The study authors noted several disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.
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