Study Links Air Pollution to Worse Alzheimer’s Outcomes
Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine (University of Pennsylvania) reported in JAMA Neurology that higher exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is associated with more advanced Alzheimer’s‑type brain pathology and faster cognitive and functional decline. The team examined 602 postmortem brains collected 1999–2022 (analysis Jan–Jun 2025), estimated pollutant exposure based on home addresses in the year before death or last assessment, and found quantitative associations—including a 19% higher odds of more severe Alzheimer’s pathology per PM2.5 increase and that roughly 63% of the pollution–dementia severity link was mediated by Alzheimer’s‑related brain changes.
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📌 Key Facts
- Sample: 602 postmortem brains from the Penn Medicine Brain Bank (1999–2022); subgroup of 287 had pre‑death dementia assessments.
- Effect size: Each increase in PM2.5 linked to 19% higher odds of more severe Alzheimer’s pathology; ~63% of the pollution–dementia severity association explained by Alzheimer’s‑related brain changes.
- Clinical impact: Higher PM2.5 associated with faster and more severe cognitive/functional decline (memory loss, speech difficulty, impaired personal care) in the assessed subgroup.