Air pollution affects cognitive performance

reference

Zhang X, Chen X, Zhang X. The effects of exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance. Proc NATL ACAD SCI USA . 2018; 115 (37): 9193-9197.

objective

determination of how cognitive performance is influenced by cumulative and temporary stress by air pollution with increasing age.

draft

observation study; Air quality data was compared with cognitive tests, with time and geographical places being compared.

participant

China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) is a nationwide representative longitudinal Survey of Chinese communities, families and individuals that was carried out in 2010 (Baseline) and 2014 by the Institute of Social Science Survey (ISSS) of Beijing University, China. In 2010 and 2014 there were 25,486 individual survey (> 9 years) for a total of 50,972 comparison data points. After removing people with incomplete data (n = 282) and all data without usable air pollution index (API), weather information or household demography, a total of 31,955 data points (i.e. observation points) were analyzed.

study parameters evaluated

The CFPS survey in 2010 and 2014 contained 24 standardized mathematical questions and 34 words of words, each in the rising order of difficulty. A test result was determined if the participant answered 3 questions in a row, the last correct answer was entered as a test result.

daily measurements of the air quality were based on the air pollution index (API), the sulfur dioxide (so _{2 ), nitrogen dioxide (no 2 ) and fine dust with a diameter of less than 10 microns (pm10). The API is published by the Chinese Ministry of Environment. The study used API measurements at the city level to measure the air quality of counties in which CFPS surveys over 1 day, 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, 1 year, 2 years and 3 years were carried out.}

Primary result measurements

Change of cognitive performance over time, measured by mathematical and verbal tests; API measurements in the geographical areas of the respondents at certain times were compared with test result patterns in order to determine the effects of pollution. In order to evaluate how the air pollution affects the cognitive performance of older people, the study examined the cumulative effects of both types of tests in various age cohorts: 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64 and over 65 years.

important knowledge

There were 3 significant general knowledge from this study:

• Air pollution corresponded to a deterioration in the test results. This was statistically significant for all data points, with the exception of the mathematical test results for 1-day and 7-day air pollution exposure.
• The longer the exposure window compared to air pollution, the greater the decline in cognitive performance.
• air pollution seems to have a greater negative influence on verbal than on the mathematical test performance.

There were also statistically significant gender -specific differences that reflect an increased susceptibility of men for air pollution. The pattern of the verbal reviews illustrated the drop in performance in the older cohorts and at the same time showed a more pronounced decline in verbal abilities in men with an enlargement of the gender gradient in older people.

In summary in this study, the aging brain was negatively influenced by air pollution - especially in older or less educated men - as the cognitive performance in mathematical and verbal tests showed.

practice implications

The aging of the world population at a time deteriorating air quality 1 has a serious effect on Health and social welfare. Cognitive challenges affect functionality to different degrees and become more pronounced with age; Physical aging and cognitive decay often occur at the same time. The study checked here did not rule out other diseases that could have contributed to the observed cognitive decline, such as: B. lung and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurological or psychiatric disorders and dementia

The authors suggest that a possible mechanism for inequality in the gender -specific performance is the stronger effect of air pollution on the white substance (more necessary by verbal tests), since there are gender differences in the white and gray substance.

The pattern of verbal reviews made it clear the drop in performance in the older cohorts and at the same time showed a more pronounced decline in verbal abilities in men with an enlargement of the gender gradient in older people.

Since men generally rarely obtain medical advice 4 and more susceptible to cognitive impairments through exposure to air pollution than women, it is important to show the risks early and often in medical encounters with them.

If we advise patients about how to reduce damage caused by air pollution, the focus should primarily be on minimizing exposure and overall risk: 5

• monitor your air. turn to local or national sources to the daily air pollution values ​​to determine whether you indicate that you restrict outdoor activities or focus of contamination.
• plan your outdoor activities. pay attention to top values ​​of rush hour traffic in the morning and early evening and try to avoid times when air pollution is highest.
• know your surroundings. Information from other studies indicate more health weaknesses in people who live near heavily used motorways and intersections.
• Avoid driving in areas with high traffic and at peak times. exhaust gas values ​​can lead to reduced air quality in cars.
• Determine your risk. Rate the overall risk risk based on the existing conditions so that you can weigh up the risks of ongoing and future exposure.
Use
• personal protection. Some people should be advised to use a face mask with effective filtering for the most harmful fine dust particles (pm2.5).