BRUSSELS: A small study of brain autopsies has provided evidence that prolonged exposure to air pollution may enhance the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. While the impact of ambient air pollution on respiratory and cardiovascular conditions is well-established, its association with neurodegenerative ailments has been supported by limited evidence.
Conducted by researchers from the University of Antwerp in Belgium and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, the study analysed various brain regions from the biobank brains of four individuals from Belgium who had been confirmed to have Alzheimer’s disease neuropathologically. The investigation focused on identifying the presence of black carbon particles.
The results revealed a notably elevated quantity of black carbon particles in several brain regions, including the thalamus (the brain’s relay station for information), the prefrontal cortex (which governs human cognitive abilities), the olfactory bulb (involved in the sense of smell), and the hippocampus (critical for learning and memory).
In their publication in JAMA Network Open, the researchers presented “evidence that ambient air pollution particles can migrate to the human brain and accumulate in multiple brain regions associated with cognitive functioning.” They speculated that this phenomenon could contribute to “the initiation and progression of neurodegenerative disorders,” while emphasising the necessity for further investigations to validate their findings.
A prior study conducted on predisposed laboratory mice demonstrated that particulate matter in polluted air could induce alterations in brain regions and accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
