Skip to content
Breaking News

Breaking News

  • Home
  • World
  • Business
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Life Style
  • Sports
  • Toggle search form

Air pollution ‘significant contributor to dementia’

Posted on February 22, 2024 By Admin No Comments on Air pollution ‘significant contributor to dementia’


Study suggests that exposure to traffic-related air pollution may be a significant cause of dementia

A man walks in the Sanlitun shopping district on a polluted day, in Beijing, China, November 6, 2021. —Reuters

Air pollution, particularly from traffic-related fine particulate matter, has been identified as a potentially major factor contributing to severe forms of dementia, according to recent research conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, The Guardian reported. 

The study suggests that exposure to traffic-related air pollution may be a significant cause of dementia, even among individuals not genetically predisposed to the condition.

The research, led by a team from Emory University in Atlanta, focused on the effects of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, which consists of particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter. 

This type of pollution, prevalent near busy roads, has been linked to the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain, a characteristic associated with Alzheimer’s disease. 

The study examined brain tissue from 224 individuals, 90% of whom had a dementia diagnosis, with a particular emphasis on those living in areas with high concentrations of traffic-related air pollution.

The results revealed a positive correlation between exposure to high levels of PM2.5 and the presence of amyloid plaques in the brains of the subjects. 

Individuals with increased PM2.5 exposure were nearly twice as likely to have higher levels of plaques in the year before death, while those with elevated exposure in the three years prior were 87% more likely to exhibit higher plaque levels. 

Importantly, the study also found that the association between air pollution and Alzheimer’s severity was stronger in individuals without the ApoE4 gene variant, suggesting that environmental factors, such as air pollution, may play a role in Alzheimer’s risk, especially in those without a strong genetic predisposition.

The findings, shedding light on the potential health risks posed by air pollution, were published in the 21 February 2024 online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.



Source link

Health

Post navigation

Previous Post: Unruly American Airlines passenger restrained by others after attempting to open emergency door in-flight
Next Post: ‘Harry Potter’ Dog: Canadian Dumbledore teaches labradoodle Hogwarts spells as commands

More Related Articles

Another coronavirus variant rears its head in Pakistan | The Express Tribune Health
Medicare to start negotiating prices for 10 drugs. Here are the medications. Health
Trump Cuts Target Next Generation of Scientists and Public Health Leaders Health
Lori and George Schappell, Long-Surviving Conjoined Twins, Die at 62 Health
New COVID subvariant, Eris, is now most common and fastest-spreading in US: ‘Never going away’ Health
NHS gets 12 years to roll out new weight-loss drug Mounjaro Health

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Women Cricketers are awarded by domestic contract by PCB – SUCH TV
  • Ryanair to increase oversized bag bonus
  • Man receives world’s first pig lung transplant in groundbreaking medical procedure
  • India cricket ends $43.6m sponsorship after online gambling ban: report
  • Morgan Wallen joins artists pushing back on Grammys

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • Sports
  • World

Copyright © 2025 Breaking News.

Powered by PressBook Blog WordPress theme