A recent study led by researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has shed light on the impact of air pollution on brain health as individuals age. The study, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity and conducted in collaboration with University College London (UCL), University of Leicester, and Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK), has uncovered significant findings linking exposure to higher levels of air pollution during midlife with cognitive decline and differences in brain structure later in life.
The research, which combined an analysis of health survey data with a neuroimaging sub-study, aimed to understand the effects of exposure to various air pollutants. The study involved 1,761 participants aged 45 and over who had participated in the Medical Research Council’s National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD). These participants were assessed for verbal memory and processing speed at various ages and underwent a cognitive screening test at age 69.
The results revealed that participants exposed to higher levels of air pollutants from age 45 onwards exhibited lower cognitive scores and slower processing speeds. Specifically, exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) was associated with cognitive impairment. Additionally, neuroimaging data from a subset of participants showed that high levels of exposure to certain pollutants were linked to changes in brain structure, such as smaller hippocampal volume and larger ventricular volume, both of which are indicators of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Professor Ioannis Bakolis emphasized the significance of these findings in the context of the growing dementia epidemic, with an estimated 153 million people projected to be living with dementia by 2050. He highlighted the urgent need to address air pollution levels that exceed recommended limits to mitigate the risk of cognitive decline as individuals age.
Thomas Canning, one of the study’s lead authors, underscored the importance of reducing exposure to air pollution to safeguard cognitive function and brain health in later life. The study’s long-term follow-up and comprehensive analysis provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of minimizing air pollution exposure, even in midlife.
In conclusion, the study’s findings underscore the critical link between air pollution and brain health, emphasizing the importance of implementing measures to reduce exposure to pollutants for the preservation of cognitive function and brain structure as individuals age.
