{"id":27721,"date":"2025-07-25T16:50:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T16:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=27721"},"modified":"2025-07-25T16:50:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T16:50:48","slug":"air-pollution-linked-to-higher-dementia-risk-major-study-reveals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/air-pollution-linked-to-higher-dementia-risk-major-study-reveals\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Pollution Linked to Higher Dementia Risk, Major Study Reveals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Researchers at the University of Cambridge have confirmed a significant link between air pollution and the risk of dementia, urging global policy changes to address this critical public health issue.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, including common pollutants from car exhausts, power plants and industrial emissions, significantly increases the risk of dementia. This is according to a large-scale analysis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanplh\/article\/PIIS2542-5196(25)00118-4\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> today in The Lancet Planetary Health by a team from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This meta-analysis, one of the most comprehensive of its kind, synthesized data from 51 studies involving nearly 30 million individuals. Primary findings identified three pollutants \u2014 PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less), nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2<\/sub>) and soot \u2014 as significantly associated with increased dementia risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Epidemiological evidence plays a crucial role in allowing us to determine whether or not air pollution increases the risk of dementia and by how much,&#8221; senior author Haneen Khreis, from the MRC Epidemiology Unit, said in a news release. &#8220;Our work provides further evidence to support the observation that long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution is a risk factor for the onset of dementia in previously healthy adults.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study found that for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter (\u03bcg\/m\u00b3) increase in PM<sub>2.5<\/sub>, the relative risk of developing dementia rose by 17%. For the same increase in NO<sub>2<\/sub>2 levels, risk increased by 3%, and for each 1 \u03bcg\/m\u00b3 of soot, the risk went up by 13%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The average levels of these pollutants in urban areas like Central London underscore the urgency. In 2023, PM<sub>2.5<\/sub> levels averaged 10 \u03bcg\/m\u00b3, while NO<sub>2<\/sub> levels were 33 \u03bcg\/m\u00b3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While dementia rates are declining in parts of Europe and North America due to better health care and preventive measures, the global burden is expected to rise sharply \u2014 from 57.4 million cases today to 152.8 million by 2050. Air pollution thus represents a crucial modifiable risk factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Tackling air pollution can deliver long-term health, social, climate and economic benefits,&#8221; Khreis added. &#8220;It can reduce the immense burden on patients, families and caregivers, while easing pressure on overstretched healthcare systems.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study primarily involved participants from high-income countries, highlighting a gap in research among marginalized communities that often experience higher exposure to pollutants. Given that mitigation efforts can have significant benefits, the authors urge for inclusivity in future research and interventions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Efforts to reduce exposure to these key pollutants are likely to help reduce the burden of dementia on society,&#8221; added joint first author Clare Rogowskir from the MRS Epidemiology Unit. &#8220;Stricter limits for several pollutants are likely to be necessary targeting major contributors such as the transport and industry sectors.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to Alzheimer\u2019s disease, the analysis revealed a stronger effect of pollutants on vascular dementia, a type characterized by reduced blood flow to the brain, affecting around 180,000 people in the UK. However, due to the limited number of specific studies, this distinction wasn&#8217;t classified as statistically significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese findings underscore the need for an interdisciplinary approach to dementia prevention,\u201d added joint first author Christiaan Bredell from the University of Cambridge and North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. \u201cPreventing dementia is not just the responsibility of healthcare: urban planning, transport policy and environmental regulation all have a significant role to play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research offers compelling evidence supporting urgent policy interventions at local, national and international levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/lanplh\/article\/PIIS2542-5196(25)00118-4\/fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">University of Cambridge<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, including common pollutants from car exhausts, power plants and industrial emissions, significantly increases the risk of dementia. This is according to a large-scale analysis published today in The Lancet Planetary Health by a team from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge. This meta-analysis, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[188],"class_list":["post-27721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-climate-and-environment","category-health","tag-university-of-cambridge"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, including common pollutants from car exhausts, power plants and industrial emissions, significantly increases the risk of dementia. This is according to a large-scale analysis published today in The Lancet Planetary Health by a team from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge. This meta-analysis,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27721"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27730,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27721\/revisions\/27730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}