Is poor air quality a modifiable dementia risk factor?

Poor air quality can cause poor respiratory health and increase mortality, and is also found to increase the risk of developing dementia.

An epidemiological study has revealed that long-term improvement in air quality in later life was associated with reduced dementia risk, particularly in older women. This is because air pollution can contribute to brain aging and cause a reduction in cognitive function by altering biomarkers and brain structure.

However future studies are required in order to explore whether reducing air pollution exposure will have a long-term benefit in reducing cognitive decline at pre-clinical stages.