Air Pollution Can Affect Cognitive Function

Cognitive assessments completed by over 500 individuals at various stages of life revealed that those who grew up in areas with greater exposure to air pollution experienced more severe cognitive decline than participants from less polluted neighborhoods. Lead author Dr. Tom Russ writes, “For the first time we have shown the effect that exposure to air pollution very early in life could have on the brain many decades later. This is the first step towards understanding the harmful effects of air pollution on the brain and could help reduce the risk of dementia for future generations.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, February 2021