Air pollution may accelerate brain aging and contribute to dementia, according to a new study. Women with specific gene variant are at a greater risk than others. The study included 3,647 women ages 65 to 69. From 1995 until 2010, researchers have tracked the women’s mental ability along with well-validated questionnaires and used public data from the Environmental Protection Agency to calculate air pollution levels.
In areas with high concentrations of the fine particulate matter that penetrates the lungs, known as PM 2.5, women had a 68 percent to 91 percent greater risk for cognitive decline and all-cause dementia than those with the lowest exposure.
The women in the study with the highest exposure and two copies of the ApoE4 gene variant, there was a 295 percent increased risk. 2 percent of the population has two copies of the APOE4 variant, which by itself is known to increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The levels of PM 2.5 have declined in recent years and so has the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: New York Times
