Exposure to air pollution worsens Alzheimer’s disease
New research from Penn Medicine finds living in areas with high concentration of air pollution is associated with increased buildup of amyloid and tau proteins in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, accelerating cognitive decline.
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Exposure to high concentrations of air pollution may worsen Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by accelerating the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain and speeding up cognitive decline. For the first time, postmortem tissue from people with AD reveals that those who live in areas with higher concentrations of fine particulate matter in the air for even just one year have more severe accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles—hallmarks of AD pathology—compared to those with less exposure. These individuals also experience faster cognitive and functional decline, including memory loss, impaired judgment, and difficulty with personal care, according to research published in JAMA Neurologyfrom the Perelman School of Medicine.
“This study shows that air pollution doesn’t just increase the risk of dementia—it actually makes Alzheimer’s disease worse,” says Edward Lee, co-director of Penn’s Institute on Aging. “As researchers continue to search for new treatments, it’s important to uncover all of the factors that contribute to the disease, including the influence of the environment in which they live.”
The researchers examined brain samples from over 600 autopsies from the Penn Medicine Brain Bank. Using data from satellites and local air quality monitors, the researchers modeled the amount of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller (PM2.5) in the air based on where each person lived. They found that for every increase of 1 microgram per cubic meter of PM2.5, the risk for worse AD amyloid and tau buildup increased by 19%.
“In the United States, air pollution is at the lowest levels in decades, but even just a year living in an area with high levels of pollution can have a big impact on a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease,” says Lee. “It underscores the value of environmental justice efforts that focus on reducing air pollution to improve public health.”
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A West Philadelphia High School student practices the drum as part of a July summer program in partnership with the Netter Center for Community Partnerships and nonprofit Musicopia.
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