Frailty in Ageing Populations Worsened by Air Pollution, Global Review Finds
October 03, 2025 | Source: The Guardian | by Gary Fuller
Air pollution increases the likelihood of people becoming frail in middle and old age, according to an international review of studies.
People are living longer and, while this is often painted as a challenge to healthcare systems, it is also something to celebrate. There are many opportunities to increase the quality of life in old age, maximise independence and minimise the amount time spent being ill.
Dr Zahra Jafari, from Dalhousie University and coauthor of the review, said: “Frailty is a critical health outcome that demands urgent attention, particularly with an ageing population. It is linked to heightened vulnerability, loss of independence, and higher healthcare costs. Importantly, frailty is not inevitable; it can be delayed, prevented, or even reversed.”
The review team found 10 studies that looked at outdoor air pollution and frailty. The people studied came from 11 countries including China, the UK, Sweden, South Africa and Mexico. Two of the studies showed that men were more vulnerable than woman, with a stronger association between particle pollution and frailty.
The risk of frailty increased with outdoor particle pollution. For the UK, this could mean about 10-20% of frailty cases are attributable to air pollution.