People exposed to air pollution face a significantly higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new medical study.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a condition that causes brain degeneration, and affects 57 million people worldwide.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, analyzed data from more than 25 million individuals aged 65 or older. The data was collected between 2000 and 2018. The research examined how high the risk of Alzheimer’s disease was among people living in areas affected by higher levels of air pollution.
The study found that greater exposure to air pollution increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly among individuals who have previously suffered a stroke.
High blood pressure and depression were also found to have a slight impact in this regard. The research stated that air pollution directly contributes to increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It further noted that improving air quality could help prevent the spread of dementia.
According to the researchers, the findings indicate that air pollution has negative effects on brain health.
