We all know that pollution isn’t good for our health.
But recent research has shown that it might have a particularly negative effect on people with dementia.
In big cities like London, where there’s a lot of traffic, the air quality isn’t great. The main culprits are nitrogen dioxide and tiny particles that float in the air.
When people breathe in these pollutants, it might make their dementia symptoms worse.
A Closer Look at the Study
A group of researchers wanted to understand this better. They examined records of over 5,000 elderly folks in South London who were diagnosed with dementia between 2008 and 2012.
These people were tracked for 9 years to see how often they used community mental health services.
What they found was quite telling. The more polluted the air around these individuals’ homes, the more often they needed to use mental health services, especially in the first year after their dementia diagnosis.
And it wasn’t just a small increase – those living in the most polluted areas were 27% more likely to use these services than those in cleaner areas.
The study also highlighted a specific group that seemed to be most affected. People with a type of dementia caused by damage to blood vessels in the brain, known as vascular dementia, were more sensitive to pollution.
They had the highest levels of exposure to pollutants and were the most likely to need additional mental health support.
Understanding the Results
Now, it’s essential to remember that this study doesn’t prove that pollution directly worsens dementia.
Instead, it suggests a connection between bad air quality and increased use of mental health services by people with dementia. There could be other reasons at play.
For instance, the study didn’t account for other factors like a person’s health background or where they lived their earlier life.
Perhaps they were exposed to other pollutants when they were younger, or maybe they moved around a lot. All these factors can affect the results.
However, the researchers did some math.
They estimated that if London could reduce its air pollution to the levels recommended by health experts, the city could see up to 38% fewer dementia patients needing mental health services every year.
Why This Matters
Dementia is a big concern in the UK. With an aging population, it’s expected that by 2050, around 2 million people will be living with this condition.
As things stand, dementia is already the main cause of death in the country.
If these findings hold true, tackling pollution could be a significant step in helping dementia patients. Fewer people needing mental health services would also mean less pressure on these already burdened systems.
The message is clear: improving the air quality can potentially help dementia patients live better lives and ease the load on mental health services. As a society, it’s something worth considering and working towards.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about low choline intake linked to higher dementia risk, and how eating nuts can affect your cognitive ability.
For more information about dementia, please read studies about walking patterns may help identify specific types of dementia, and common high blood pressure drugs may help lower your dementia risk.
The study was published in Circulation.
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