Dementia refers to several mental conditions that impair thinking, memory, and daily functioning, especially in elderly people. Factors such as age, hypertension (high blood pressure), smoking, inactivity, social isolation, and sadness can increase the risk of dementia.
A recent study found that exposure to air pollution increases the risk, as does exposure to nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide. The results by BMJ suggest that air pollutants are risk factors for dementia, and caution should be taken when interpreting these findings.
The number of people living with the disease has surpassed 57 million, which is rising significantly. Since there aren’t many interventions available to slow or stop dementia’s onset, no definitive conclusions were drawn.
The study was conducted to address the growing number of people living with it. They discovered 51 research studies revealing links between air pollution averaged over a year or more and adult dementia diagnoses.
Researchers found a correlation between increased the risk and increased exposure to fine particle pollution after incorporating 16 papers, largely from North America and Europe.
According to 14 studies that particularly addressed the impact of PM2.5 on the disease, the risk of which increased by 4% for every 2 ug/m3 increase in the average yearly PM2.5 concentration.
Results from studies revealed that for every 2 ug/m3 rise in the average yearly PM2.5 concentration, the risk of it increased by 42%, with the most conservative estimate putting the danger at higher than 17%. The studies also claimed an increase in the risk of the disease associated with exposure to nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
However, the research failed to discover a connection between ozone and the disease.
