Evidence emerges linking dementia to particulates in air pollution

Air pollution is a major public health issue that has been related to a variety of ailments such as asthma, lung cancer and heart disease. Air pollution is projected to kill approximately 9 million people each year, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated it as the single greatest environmental health concern.

Surprisingly, recent research suggests a link between exposure to small air pollutants, known as PM 2.5 particles, and the development of dementia. According to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, there is strong evidence for a biological relationship between PM 2.5 particles exposure and the onset of dementia. The authors discovered a 17 percent increase in the incidence of dementia for every 2 microgram increase in annual PM 2.5 exposure per cubic meter of air.

While the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to tighten air quality rules, it is estimated that 90 percent to 95 percent of the world’s population is exposed to harmful levels of PM 2.5 particles. Although the mechanisms by which air pollutants damage the brain and affect the risk of dementia are not fully known, these small particles can have a deleterious impact on normal brain function and structure.

Another source of these particles is the ever-increasing numbers and size of wildfire around the globe. Studies have shown that in almost 90 percent of the cases humans are responsible for them. This is an area in which we can all make an impact by following some rules aimed at decreasing the risk of wildfire: build a campfire in an open location and far from flammables; keep vehicles off dry grass; keep sparks away from dry vegetation.

Together we all can work towards a better future for ourselves and future generations by adopting individual and communal actions like walking, biking, or taking public transportation instead of driving can help cut pollution. Indoor air quality can also be improved by employing air purifiers and limiting the use of polluting goods like certain cleaning chemicals and paints.

There is no doubt that reduced exposure to air pollution can have a substantial and positive influence on public health, potentially helping to lower the global incidence of dementia. While reducing air pollution is a challenging issue, it is an important step towards improving public health and lowering among other illnesses the global burden of dementia. IAH

Dr. Domenico Praticò is the director of the Alzheimer’s Center at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia.