City air pollution could rot your brain: Study
Postmedia Network
First posted: Friday, April 24, 2015 11:23 AM EDT | Updated: Friday, April 24, 2015 11:30 AM EDT
Years of breathing in pollution may lead to brain damage, a new U.S. study says.
The latest findings follow recent studies that link polluted air — such as car exhaust fumes and burning wood — to an increased risk of suicide, anxiety and stroke.
Researchers did MRIs on 943 healthy adults in the Boston, New England and New York areas between 1995-2005.
They found breathing in high levels of air pollution — such as that commonly found in cities — over the long-term was linked to a .32% drop in brain volume, which is a sign of age-related brain atrophy. The researchers also found a 46% increase of covert brain infarcts — a form of silent stroke.
"Long-term exposure to air pollution showed harmful effects on the brain in this study, even at low levels, particularly with older people and even those who are relatively healthy," said lead investigator Elissa Wilker of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
The research was published in the journal Stroke.
City air pollution could rot your brain: Study | Health & Fitness | Life | Toron
Postmedia Network
First posted: Friday, April 24, 2015 11:23 AM EDT | Updated: Friday, April 24, 2015 11:30 AM EDT
Years of breathing in pollution may lead to brain damage, a new U.S. study says.
The latest findings follow recent studies that link polluted air — such as car exhaust fumes and burning wood — to an increased risk of suicide, anxiety and stroke.
Researchers did MRIs on 943 healthy adults in the Boston, New England and New York areas between 1995-2005.
They found breathing in high levels of air pollution — such as that commonly found in cities — over the long-term was linked to a .32% drop in brain volume, which is a sign of age-related brain atrophy. The researchers also found a 46% increase of covert brain infarcts — a form of silent stroke.
"Long-term exposure to air pollution showed harmful effects on the brain in this study, even at low levels, particularly with older people and even those who are relatively healthy," said lead investigator Elissa Wilker of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
The research was published in the journal Stroke.
City air pollution could rot your brain: Study | Health & Fitness | Life | Toron
