New research reveals that air pollution, especially PM2.5, may contribute to cerebral atrophy but does not seem to impair cognitive function. Urbanization affects the strength of this link.
Study: Association of ambient air pollution with cognitive functioning and markers of structural brain damage: The Maastricht study . Image Credit: fran_kie / Shutterstock Cerebral atrophy involves the loss of neurons and the connections between them, which the Maastricht study associates with higher PM2.5 exposure causing increased CSF volume, indicating cerebral atrophy.
In a recent study published in the journal Environment International , researchers investigated the potential relationship of exposure to various types of air pollutants with brain structure and cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults. They found that high exposure to fine particulate matter of diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.
5 ) was associated with lower gray matter and higher cerebrospinal fluid volumes, indicating cerebral atrophy, with stronger effects in men for white matter volume. However, these associations became non-significant after adjusting for urbanization. They found no significant association with cognitive function or most brain markers, although curvilinear associations between PM2.
5 and brain volumes were observed, with mid- to high-range exposure linked to greater cerebral atrophy. Background Dementia is a progressive condition characterized by a decline in cognitive functions s.