Air pollution reduces cognitive ability.
Scientists assert that emissions from vehicles in cities can negatively impact brain function.
Melinda Power, a PhD holder working at Harvard School of Public Health in the US, and her colleagues investigated the impact of air pollution on human cognitive function. They recruited 680 men aged 51 to 97 to participate in an experiment. They asked the volunteers to perform tests of their thinking and reasoning abilities, the Telegraph reported.
The results showed that for every doubling of CO2 concentration in the air, the volunteers' cognitive abilities decreased by 1.3 times. This trend did not change after the research team excluded related factors – such as educational level and social status.
"Our research shows that air pollution from traffic negatively impacts cognitive function in older adults," Power stated.
Air pollution from traffic negatively impacts cognitive function in older adults. Photo: National Geographic.
The mixture of gases and ultrafine particles emitted by motor vehicles causes air pollution. The research team found that polluted air appears to cause inflammation and oxidation in the brain – two factors that contribute to stress. They also found evidence that ultrafine particles can penetrate the brain and paralyze neurological functions.
"Declining cognitive abilities in older adults are a major public health concern. Our research suggests that air pollution from traffic, particularly emissions from diesel engines, may play a role," Power said.
Although the study subjects were men, Power believes the results may also be applicable to women.
In another experiment, scientists at Ohio University in the US exposed a group of mice to polluted air from vehicle emissions. They then trained them in certain skills alongside a group of mice living in a normal environment.
They found that the learning and memory abilities of the group of mice exposed to polluted air were significantly lower than those of the other group. The development of neurons in the hippocampus – the area in the mouse brain that determines learning and memory – was also sharply reduced in the group of mice exposed to polluted air.
Laura Fonken, a neuroscientist at Ohio University, stated: “Our research shows that long-term exposure to polluted air, a common phenomenon in major cities around the world, can negatively impact cognitive abilities in humans and animals.”
Numerous previous studies have shown that microscopic particles in the air increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Scientists have discovered that emissions from diesel engines harden blood vessels, which can cause heart attacks.
According to VnExpress
