Air Pollution May Impact the Structure of the Human Brain

Air pollution may be more dangerous than you might think. Scientists have found that long-term exposure to this type of pollution can damage brain structure and impair cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.

In this latest study, the researchers evaluated how far participants lived from major roadways and used satellite imagery to assess prolonged exposure to ambient imagery to assess prolonged exposure to ambient fine particular matter, particles with a diameter of 2.5 millionth of a meter, referred to as PM2.5.

These air pollution particles can come from a variety of sources, including power plants, factories, trucks and cars, and wood burning. The particles are inhaled and can travel deeply into the lungs of individuals.

In this case, the study participants were at least 60 years of age and were free from dementia and stroke. The evaluation included total cerebral brain volume, a marker of age-associated brain atrophy, in addition to hippocampal volume, and white matter hyperintensity volume.

"This is one of the first studies to look at the relationship between ambient air pollution and brain structure," said Elissa Wilker, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Our findings suggest that air pollution is associated with insidious effects on structural brain aging, even in dementia and stroke-free individuals."

The scientists found that even an increase of only 2µg per cubic meter in PM2.5 was associated with being more likely to have covert brain infarcts and smaller cerebral brain volume. In fact, the smaller volume was equivalent to about one year of brain aging.

"These results are an important step in helping us learn what is going on in the brain," said Wilker. "The mechanisms through which air pollution may affect brain aging remain unclear, but systemic inflammation resulting from the deposit of fine particles in the lungs is likely important."

The findings are published in the journal Stroke.

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