Pollution will always have a negative impact.
A recent study reveals a correlation between high levels of traffic-related air pollution and increased amyloid plaques in the brain, a characteristic associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The research, conducted by Anke Huels, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta, found that seniors living in areas with elevated levels of particle pollution from traffic were nearly twice as likely to exhibit more amyloid plaques in the year before their death compared to those in less polluted areas. Over a three-year period preceding death, individuals with higher exposure to air pollution were 87% more likely to have heightened levels of these plaques.
The study, published in the journal Neurology on Feb. 21, analyzed brain tissue from 224 individuals who donated their brains posthumously for dementia research. The average age of the participants at death was 76. Researchers examined the presence of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, both hallmark indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, in the brain tissue. They then evaluated the levels of air pollution at the residential addresses of the participants, all of whom resided in or near Atlanta.
The findings revealed a significant association between increased exposure to air pollution and higher levels of amyloid plaques in the brain. Notably, this correlation remained even after accounting for the presence of the APOE e4 gene variant, a genetic factor linked to a heightened risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals lacking this gene variant exhibited the most pronounced relationship between air pollution and Alzheimer’s indicators, underscoring the potential impact of environmental factors on the disease’s progression.
While the study does not establish a causal relationship between air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease, it suggests that environmental factors, such as traffic-related air pollution, may play a role in the development or exacerbation of the condition, particularly in cases where genetic predisposition alone cannot account for the observed effects. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association and to explore potential avenues for mitigating the impact of air pollution on Alzheimer’s disease.
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