Evidence Grows of Air Pollution Link With Dementia and Stroke Risk
Long-term UK study adds to body of research associating pollutants with declining brain health
January 12, 2024 | Source: The Guardian | by Gary Fuller
UK researchers have been looking at how air pollution contributes to dementia and brain ill-health.
Stroke is the second-leading cause of death globally, accounting for about 11% of deaths. About 50 million people live with dementia, and the figure is expected to rise to about 150 million by 2050.
It is too easy to dismiss this as a natural consequence of an ageing population.
A study has looked at the health of more than 413,000 people taking part in the UK Biobank project. All were between 40 and 69 years old and free of dementia, cancer or stroke at the start of the study. Their health was tracked, focusing on the association between air pollution and the transition from being healthy to having a stroke, dementia or both. Data was also collected on their lifestyles, including smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption and diet, as well as their socioeconomic status.