Researchers in Scotland She finds patterns in health data that point to the pollution in the air children breathe It may affect their chances of developing dementia later in life.
The first evidence that air pollution may affect brain health was discovered about 20 years ago Researchers Brain changes found in pet dogs in chronically polluted Mexico City.
By 2022, a UK Government Committee was able to Review of 69 studies. The researchers concluded that air pollution is likely to accelerate cognitive decline later in life and increase the risk of dementia. They also found some evidence of changes in the brains of children exposed to air pollution.
Otto Emil Gottila, from University of Edinburgh and First author L The new study“While the role of air pollution as a risk factor for late-life dementia has been widely investigated, little is known about the impact of air pollution on our entire lives,” he said.
Starting a project to track young people today would mean a long delay in addressing the problems.
In 2004, their number was just over 1,000 people They were recruited to study the brain and aging. They were all born in 1936 and grew up around Edinburgh. From age 70, they are evaluated every three years.
The first person was diagnosed with dementia in 2011. By 2019, 17% of people had dementia, or about one in six people.
The next stage was to work on identifying air pollution in their childhood neighborhoods. Dr. Massimo Fino, from United Kingdom Center for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH).“At present the UK is a data-rich country, but there is limited data on historical uses of fuels, industry and transport,” he said.
Sam Tomlinson too From UKCEHHe added: “The data was generated from countless sources, old journals, books, statistical abstracts etc. Given coal’s intrinsic ties to the British population for centuries, it was important to estimate how much (and where) coal was consumed throughout the 20th century.”
The results did not reach complete statistical significance, but several patterns emerged.
The first and strongest finding was that air pollution in 1936 was positively associated with the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. At this time, study participants were in their mothers’ womb or were less than a year old.
The second was more curious. Air pollution In middle age it appears to have a protective effect against dementia, but this may be due to the time it takes for various air pollution diseases to develop.
“High exposure in midlife may be associated with premature death from other air pollution-related conditions, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, before people develop dementia,” Gutila said.
“Exposure to air pollution is a lifelong problem with long-term adverse effects on health. Our study reinforces the importance of reducing exposure to air pollution throughout life, especially during vulnerable periods in prenatal and early childhood.”
Although the new study is not conclusive, it shows that research on the health of older people, and the air pollution they breathed in the past, may help protect future generations.
Better quality air may help people later in life, too. Studies in Francethe we and China Found it Reducing air pollution It can quickly reduce the number of people who develop dementia.
