Dementia is a serious health problem that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It mostly happens in older people, but younger people can get it too.
Many things are known to increase the chance of getting dementia, like getting older, family history, and other health problems. But now, scientists think that the air we breathe might also be part of the problem.
A new study from Stockholm, Sweden, has found that air pollution could raise the risk of dementia. The research looked at tiny particles in the air called PM2.5.
These are very small—so small that you can’t see them—but they can easily get into your lungs when you breathe. PM2.5 usually comes from things like car exhaust, factory smoke, and other sources in busy cities.
In the study, researchers followed over 2,500 older people who lived in city areas for up to 12 years. During that time, 376 of them developed dementia. The scientists collected a lot of information, including blood tests, interviews, and surveys about what the participants ate, how active they were, and other lifestyle habits.
They wanted to find out if people who breathed in more air pollution were more likely to get dementia. They also looked at two substances found in the blood that are important for brain health.
One of these substances comes from foods like meat, eggs, dairy, beans, and fish. The other is made naturally in our body and can change into the first one with help from certain vitamins. These substances help protect brain cells and support memory and clear thinking.
The study showed that people who got dementia were exposed to slightly higher levels of PM2.5 than those who didn’t. These people also had more of one brain-related substance and less of the other.
After the researchers looked at other things like age, smoking, gender, and education, they found that even a small increase in PM2.5 was linked to a 70% higher chance of getting dementia.
Interestingly, about half of that increased risk seemed to be related to the changes in the two body substances. This means that air pollution may affect the brain not just directly, but also by changing the balance of important nutrients or chemicals in our bodies.
Scientists still don’t know exactly how air pollution causes brain problems. But this study gives them a new idea to explore. It also shows that our surroundings, especially the air we breathe, can affect our brain—not just our lungs or heart.
Even though this is early research, it shows why clean air is so important. It also suggests that eating well might help protect the brain, especially if it helps keep the right balance of nutrients in the body.
Other research has also shown that staying active, eating healthy foods like those in the Mediterranean diet, and keeping your brain and social life active can help slow down memory loss and protect brain function.
This new study, published in the journal Neurology, reminds us that staying healthy is not only about what we eat or how we exercise. It’s also about the quality of our environment. Clean air, good food, and healthy habits all work together to keep our brains strong.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about a simple solution to fight dementia and big causes of memory loss, dementia you need to know.
For more health information, please read studies that people who take high blood pressure medications have lower dementia risk and early indicators of dementia: 5 behaviour changes to look for after age 50.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
