Dementia is a serious condition that affects the brain. It can cause memory loss, confusion, and changes in behavior.
While it’s most common in older adults, younger people can develop it too. A new study has found that something many people don’t expect—air pollution—may play a role in raising the risk of dementia.
Most people know that air pollution is bad for the lungs and heart. But scientists are now learning that it may also harm the brain. The main focus of this research is on very tiny particles in the air called PM2.5.
These particles are so small that we can’t see them, but they can get deep into our lungs and even enter the bloodstream. They often come from car exhaust and smoke from factories.
The study also looked at two natural substances in the body that are important for brain health. One of these is found in foods like meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and beans. The other is made by our own cells and can be turned into the first substance with the help of vitamins.
The research took place in Stockholm, Sweden. It followed more than 2,500 older adults who lived in the city for up to 12 years. During this time, 376 of the participants developed dementia. The researchers collected information through interviews, blood tests, and surveys about diet and lifestyle.
They found that people who developed dementia had been exposed to slightly more PM2.5 air pollution than those who didn’t. These same individuals also had higher levels of one body substance and lower levels of the other in their blood.
After taking into account things like age, gender, smoking, and education, the study found that even a small increase in PM2.5 exposure was linked to a 70% higher risk of developing dementia. About half of this increased risk was connected to the levels of the two substances in the body.
This suggests that air pollution might interact with certain body chemicals to affect brain health. However, it’s still early to say exactly how this happens. More studies are needed to fully understand the connection.
The research reminds us that clean air is important—not just for breathing but also for keeping our brains healthy. It also shows how important diet is, since the foods we eat affect the levels of key substances in our body that help protect the brain.
For people looking to reduce their risk of dementia, this study adds more reasons to eat a healthy diet, stay active, and support efforts to reduce air pollution. Things like regular exercise and brain-friendly diets have already been shown to help protect memory and thinking skills.
Understanding how our environment affects our brain is a growing area of science. As researchers learn more, it’s clear that both lifestyle and environmental quality play a big role in our overall health.
This study was published in the journal Neurology and offers new insight into how our surroundings might affect our brain as we age.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Scientists find a simple solution to fight dementia and findings of Big causes of memory loss, dementia you need to know.
For more about dementia, please read studies about People who take high blood pressure medications have lower dementia risk and findings of Early indicators of dementia: 5 behaviour changes to look for after age 50.
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