Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure and Increased Dementia Risk Revealed in NIH-Funded Study
A study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, particularly from sources like agriculture and open fires, is linked to higher rates of new dementia cases over time.
The study, involving over 27,000 adults aged 50 and older, found that 15% of them developed dementia during a 10-year follow-up period. The research suggests that reducing exposure to airborne particulates, especially those from specific emission sources, may help decrease the risk of dementia.
This information could inform future research and policy interventions to address the health risks associated with air pollution.
Source:
Negron, A. (2023). Air pollution from different emission sources is associated with incident dementia. https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/air-pollution-different-emission-sources-associated-incident-dementia