Air pollution's link to Alzheimer's signs highlighted in a new study - Environmental Health News
Air pollution's link to Alzheimer's signs highlighted in a new study - EHN
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Air pollution's link to Alzheimer's signs highlighted in a new study
Inhaling high concentrations of air particulates, particularly from traffic pollution, has been associated with increased signs of Alzheimer's disease in the brain, a recent study reveals.
Amudalat Ajasa reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The research focuses on the relationship between ambient air pollution and Alzheimer's indicators in brain tissue.
- Findings suggest environmental factors, notably air pollution, could significantly contribute to Alzheimer's disease development, even in individuals without genetic predispositions.
- The study underscores the urgent need for policy changes to address air pollution, emphasizing health equity concerns, especially in communities disproportionately affected by traffic-related pollution.
Key quote:
"We often think about air pollution in the lungs, but it’s critical that we put the brain at the forefront of the conversation of the ways that air pollution impacts our health."
— Gaurab Basu, director of education and policy at Harvard’s center for climate, health and the environment.
Why this matters:
This research sheds light on how air pollution, a modifiable environmental factor, may play a crucial role in Alzheimer's disease progression, stressing the importance of policy interventions for public health, especially given the broader implications for health equity and the disparate impact on vulnerable communities.
Learn more from EHN's 5-part series: Pollution's mental toll: How air, water and climate pollution shape our mental health.
Related Knowledge Center: Air emissions
More than 30 years after the last major update of the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Supreme Court has upended the ability of Congress to give the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies broad scope to combat air pollution, including the emission of greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, further Biden administration efforts to limit emissions face opposition in the courts.