Urban air pollution is increasingly becoming a humongous lifestyle issue across most cosmopolitans. In India, Delhi battles this issue every day with the levels peaking to severe level of toxic air, in winters. While a lot of research has identified this to be a critical problem which needs immediate, drastic and long-term solutions, the effects are slowly and consistently making inroads into our lives too.
A recent study has proven that one of the outcomes of sustained exposure to pollution, is dementia.According to World Health Organisation, Dementia is the seventh leading cause of death in the world. The syndrome involves loss of cognitive functioning and behavioural abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
Worldwide, about seven percent people over 65 suffer from Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia, a percentage that rises to 40% above the age of 85. These numbers are expected to nearly triple by 2050, posing a huge challenge to healthcare systems.
Chemicals cast off by tailpipe pollution such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and soot are known to boost the risk for heart disease, stroke and respiratory problems, especially asthma. But now even traffic waste is proving a deterrent.
The findings suggest that the chemical by products of burning diesel and petrol can damage brain function and lead to poor cognitive development in young children.
“There is a growing body of evidence of the link between air pollution and brain health, including dementia and Alzheimer’s,” said Martie Van Tongeren, a professor of occupational and environmental health at the University of Manchester.
Scientists have long known that breathing dirty air can be hazardous for your health, including the brain health.
Now, a study, published in the medical journal BMJ Open, weighs just how much exposure to high amounts of air and noise pollution could be linked to an increased risk of dementia.
Though the study was conducted only in London, similar studies are underway in the US, Canada and China. This will give a more balanced view of how this problem effects cities globally.
Another study, published last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that long-term exposure to air pollution can impede cognitive performance in verbal and math tests.
Researchers found that both verbal and math scores decreased with increased cumulative air pollution exposure, resulting in a decline in verbal scores.
Dementia is a serious problem which has taken over the world. A shocking revelation that stares in our face. Till the time environmental and lifestyle changes are not made with immediate effect, these issues will continue to erode our lives.