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Researchers reveal how traffic pollution is linked to risk of dementia

The researchers concentrated on PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, which is composed of airborne pollutants with diameters less than 2.5 millimetres.

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Researchers reveal how traffic pollution is linked to risk of dementia

Researchers hypothesised that increased exposure to particulate matter, a type of air pollution linked to traffic, may be linked to an increased risk of dementia. The researchers concentrated on PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, which is composed of airborne pollutants with diameters less than 2.5 millimetres. The risk of dementia was investigated using all relevant studies in the meta-analysis. The study’s findings were published in the journal Neurology.

“As people live longer lives, conditions like dementia become more common, so detecting and understanding preventable risk factors is critical to reducing the increase of this disease,” study author Ehsan Abolhasani, MD, MSc, of Western University in London, Canada, said. “Because a World Health Organization report found that more than 90% of the world’s population lives in areas with higher than recommended levels of air pollution, our findings provide more evidence for enforcing air quality regulations and accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energies.” Researchers examined 17 studies for the meta-analysis. The participants were all over the age of 40. There were over 91 million people in total across all studies. Dementia affected 5.5 million of these people, or 6%.

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The studies controlled for several risk factors for dementia, such as age, gender, smoking, and education. Researchers compared rates of air pollution exposure in people with and without dementia and discovered that those who did not develop dementia had lower average daily exposure to fine particulate matter air pollutants than those who did. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States considers average yearly exposures of up to 12 ug/m3 to be safe.

Researchers discovered that every one microgram per cubic metre (ug/m3) increase in fine particulate matter exposure increased the risk of dementia by 3%. “While our meta-analysis does not prove that air pollution causes dementia, it only shows an association,” Abolhasani explained. “Our hope is that these findings inspire people to take an active role in reducing their exposure to pollution.” “By understanding the risk of dementia caused by air pollution, people can take steps to reduce their exposure, such as using sustainable energy, choosing to live in less polluted areas, and advocating for reduced traffic pollution in residential areas.”

They also looked at nitrogen oxides, which cause smog, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone exposure, but found no evidence of a significantly increased risk when these other pollutants were considered separately.

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