Air pollution is often viewed as an outdoor hazard and a threat to respiratory health.
Air pollution is often viewed as an outdoor hazard and a threat to respiratory health. Now, emerging research shows that air pollution may also affect our brain health. Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, is a complex mixture of many chemicals that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. While PM2.5 exposure has long been linked to tissue damage and inflammation in the lung, its role in cognitive decline is only now gaining attention. In a recent population-based study, researchers from the universities of Rostock, Bonn and Luxembourg have uncovered a potential link: systemic inflammation, driven by an increase in monocytes – a type of white blood cells – may be a key mediator in how PM2.5 exposure contributes to cognitive impairment. The study is published in the scientific journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
Fine particulate matter and its impact on brain health
PM2.5 are fine airborne particles small enough to enter the lungs and even the bloodstream, posing significant health risks. Long-term exposure has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, resulting in air pollution being listed as one of the modifiable risk factors in the recent report of the Lancet commision on dementia prevention, intervention and care. However, the mechanisms through which PM2.5 affects cognitive function remain poorly understood.
Read more at: Universite du Luxembourg
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