(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) DEMENTIA

(SEPTEMBER-2025)

DEMENTIA

Recently, the study published by Lancet Planetary Health found that long-term exposure to air pollution is linked to an increased risk of developing dementia.

Key highlights:

‘Dementia’ is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities. The illness gets worse over time and mainly affects older people.
Scientists have put out a number of theories over the years to explain how dementia can be brought on by air pollution.
The start and course of dementia are known to be influenced by oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are believed to be triggered by air pollution either directly entering the brain or through the same pathways that underlie lung and cardiovascular disorders.
According to WHO data, 99% of people worldwide breathe air that has high levels of pollutants and exceeds WHO guideline limits; exposures are higher in low- and middle-income nations.

Dementia and three prevalent air contaminants

PM2.5: Particulate Matter (PM2.5) is mostly produced by thermal power plants and automobile emissions. The study discovered that an individual’s relative risk of dementia would rise by 17% from the baseline for every 10 microgrammes per cubic meter (µg/m³) of long-term exposure to PM2.5.
NO₂: The main source of nitrogen dioxide is the burning of fossil fuels in automobiles, thermal power plants, and other industrial operations. The study discovered that the relative risk of dementia rose by 3% for every 10 µg/m³ of prolonged exposure to nitrogen dioxide.
Soot: Black carbon or soot PM2.5 is produced by burning wood and automobile exhaust pollutants, among other sources. According to the study, the risk of dementia increased by 13% for every 1 µg/m³ of prolonged soot exposure.

Signs and symptoms

Memory loss, cognitive difficulties, visual perception, self-control, linguistic or problem-solving difficulties, and the capacity for concentration and focus.