Air pollution may pose risks far beyond the lungs and heart, potentially affecting brain development in children and increasing the risk of dementia and other neurological disorders in adults, according to researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
In a new report released this week, researchers said ultrafine particles found in air pollution can travel through the body and reach the brain, where they may contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress. Scientists linked exposure to potential learning difficulties, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s-related brain changes and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. Children are considered especially vulnerable because their brains are still developing, researchers said.
The report notes that exposure during pregnancy and early childhood may affect learning, social development, impulsivity and cognitive flexibility. Researchers said children face heightened risks because they breathe more air relative to their body size and often live or attend school near roads and other sources of pollution.
Researchers also highlighted growing concerns about wildfire smoke and other high-exposure environments. To reduce risk, experts recommend monitoring air quality reports, limiting outdoor activity on high-pollution days, using air purifiers indoors and wearing N95 or KN95 masks when necessary. They also emphasized that better air quality standards could improve long-term public health outcomes, including brain health.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].