Air Pollution Linked To Dementia

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Air pollution might be somewhat of a difficult topic for the public to understand fully because it’s not only what we see with our eyes. The obvious signs are smoke coming from tailpipes and smokestacks or offensive smells or wildfire smoke and haze. We can also sometimes see smog, but at other times air pollution might be present and it looks like fog or we can’t see it at all, though it is present.

Particulate matter that comes from gas and diesel exhaust pipes, coal power plants, and some industrial facilities can’t be seen at all many times. PM10 and PM2.5 are names many people might not recognize but they know the word soot. The thing is, particulate matter is tiny particles that usually can only be seen with a microscope, so as members of the public we don’t even notice it. Sometimes we might notice eye stinging, throat burning, or coughing, but in many cases air pollution is present without us knowing it.

Here are some air pollution components:

• PM10 (particulate matter)
• PM2.5 (particulate matter)
• Ozone
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Dementia is also a bit nebulous because it is a general term that refers to neurodegenerative diseases and conditions, but the exact causes can be somewhat general.

Air pollution might not be a factor many people are aware of, but it can be one. “Studies in animals have indicated that air pollution particulates can speed degeneration of the nervous system. And human studies have found that air pollution exposure — particularly from traffic exhaust and burning wood — is associated with greater dementia risk.”

Years ago, I had a job interview at an office that was located right under a suspended part of a freeway with gas and diesel vehicles roaring overhead spewing toxic air pollution everywhere. I could not believe people would choose to work in an office there, exposing themselves to toxic air pollution 8 hours a day, 5 days a week — maybe for years, if not decades!

Presumably they were completely unaware of how hazardous exposure to toxic air pollution is and might pay a severe price to their health later in life.

Recently there was an article about air pollution research in humans explaining the link so many of us may know nothing about. “Recent research published in JAMA Neurology has highlighted the impact of prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, on cognitive health. The study indicates that long-term exposure to these particles is associated not only with an increased risk of developing dementia but also with accelerated progression in individuals already affected by the condition.”

Continuing on, “Analysis of brain tissue and clinical records in the study revealed that individuals exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 exhibited more pronounced Alzheimer’s disease-related changes. Among participants with dementia, greater exposure was linked to faster cognitive decline and increased difficulty performing daily activities. The findings suggest that environmental exposure is a significant factor influencing disease severity.”

Within the context of CleanTechnica, it’s worth noting much of the news published is about fully electric vehicles which do not directly generate toxic air pollution. Plug-in hybrids use fossil fuels, though less than fully gas or diesel vehicles. The solution is not using a little less fossil fuels, it is eliminating fossil fuels.

More from the source for a moment, “The lethality associated with dementia is compounded by these environmental factors. Accelerated progression can increase the risk of complications such as loss of independence, falls, and other secondary health issues. Exposure to polluted air has also been associated with systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and small-vessel damage, all of which may worsen neurological outcomes. Recognizing these risks is critical for public health planning and individual protection strategies.”

In the context of human health, toxic air pollution is also linked to heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), strokes, asthma, and bronchitis.

Somehow, news reports have apparently fixated on carbon emissions and the environment, but routinely overlook the fact that fossil fuels generate many more emissions than just carbon. The additional emissions harm human health and contribute to premature human deaths.