The Effects Of Pollution On Brain Health
- By GHBY Team
- 23 Aug 2023
- Verified by Dr. Stefanenko Irina Borisovna
Key highlights or summary
- The consequences of pollution on brain health are often lesser known, yet they impact everyone, from fetuses in utero to children, adults, and the elderly.
- Fine particles or pollutants like PM2.5 can enter the brain and trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to mental health and brain disorders.
- Pollution is also linked to a higher risk of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, as it can accelerate cognitive decline and affect the blood-brain barrier.
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- Air pollution damages brains, as well as hearts and lungs
- Developmental impact of air pollution on brain function
- Danger in the air
- Traffic pollution impairs brain function
- Babies have air pollution in their lungs and brains before they take their first breath
- Air Pollution and Dementia: A Systematic Review
- A national cohort study (2000–2018) of long-term air pollution exposure and incident dementia in older adults in the United States
Frequently asked questions
Get the information you need.
Brain health is essential to our overall health and quality of life. It is the command center for our thoughts, emotions, actions, behaviours, and bodily processes. Unfortunately, pollution can cause chronic inflammation in the brain which leads to damage to neurons, disruption of responses in the nervous system, and the development of neurological disorders.
Yes, pollution is a recognized risk factor for heart disease and neurological or cognitive disorders. Air pollution can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and plaque formation in arteries, leading to coronary heart disease. Exposure to pollution can also contribute to brain inflammation and cellular damage and increase the risk of anxiety, depression, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's.
Pollution significantly impacts children, including their heart and brain functioning. Children are more vulnerable as their brains and immune system are still developing and they face higher exposure to pollution. Toxic substances in the air, water, soil, and more can enter the bloodstream and affect the brain, leading to learning disabilities, lower IQ, attention problems, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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