A new study by researchers at Atlanta-Mori University has found a connection between air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease in humans.
Using the brain tissue donated by the Metro Atlanta residents, researchers evaluated their home address for air pollution generated by nearby traffic. The study released on Wednesday does not prove air pollution, which causes Alzheimer’s, but a relationship was found in the brain tissue between the exposure to air pollution due to Alzheimer’s traffic and signs.
Medical and environmental authorities have long warned about the results of air pollution on respiratory and heart health.
The study contributes to pre -existing evidence that breathing pollution can cause “plaques” or accumulate in the brain – a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Most of the air pollution in Atlanta is more due to most air pollution in Atalanta, assistant professor of Epidemiology at Rollins School of Public Health, Emoree, Emory’s head. “It is also that we focused on especially traffic related air pollution risk.”
He said. The conclusions have been published in the Medical Journal of “Neurology”, the American Academy of Neurology.
The brain tissue used in the study was taken from 224 donors at the Brain Bank at the Goizuta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, who died before 2020. The patients lived in urban or suburban areas in the 20-Country metro region. Most of the patients were white, 59% were male, and the average age of the patients was 76.
Most of the minds studied were from those who were already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia before dying.
While the population of the study is not comparable with the general population, Hules stated that the findings of the study are still valuable as it shows that pollution is connected to a plaquette pieces in the brain.
Over 6.7 million American residents have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, including at least 150,000 Georgians.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s, one of the dementia, is a progressive disease that affects memory and other brain functions. Researchers do not know the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease, but this possibility is due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Air pollution has previously been doubted as a possible factor.
“In our study we used the air pollution model, which can anticipate us of the air pollution concentration related to residential traffic with a very good resolution ranging from 200 to 250 meters,” Hules said. “Of course you will look at the highest level of these pollutants around the major highways, so those who lived very close to the major highways had the highest risk for traffic related pollutants.”
The study saw the “fine particulate matter” from traffic exit and whether the polluted air had a connection between signs of breathing and Alzheimer’s in the brain. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the particulate pollution is made up of solids or small particles of fluids, so that they can go deep into the small lungs and enter the bloodstream, possibly causing health problems. They are the cause of mist in some parts of America
The Hules stated that the findings are in line with previous studies, which have shown relations between particulate pollution and cognitive decline, memory loss or diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers also saw patients who gave a major genetic risk factor to “APOE genes” to develop Alzheimer’s. But the strongest relationship between pollution and Alzheimer’s was seen in them without those risk factor. This shows that environmental factors such as air pollution can be a contributor to Alzheimer’s disease in patients in which the disease cannot be explained by genetics.
According to a statement by Jill Disney, Program Director of Alzheimer’s Association Georgia Chapter, “We know that air pollution is bad for our health,” including our brain, including our brain, including our brain, including our brain, our minds include our minds. “Many studies presented during AAIC 2021 first suggested that reducing pollution is associated with low risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”
Disney called for more research in areas of United States with high -level pollution, which are populated by low -income individuals and color people.
The Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association said last year that it had invested $ 100 million in dementia research, the largest single-year investment since 1980 was set up when the non-profit institution was established. In Georgia alone, in 2023, it was awarded $ 600,000 for pursuing research efforts.
Overall, the state of Georgia has a total projects of about $ 3.5 million and include research, including risk factors, care and initial identity.
The Emori study was funded by an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Pilot Grants through the National Institute of Aging. Hools and other researchers did not have any relevant financial interest in the result.
What is “Fine Particulate Matter”?
According to the environmental protection agency, these are small particles that are so small that they can be deeply soaked in the lungs and enter the bloodstream, possibly causing health problems. They are the cause of mist in some parts of America
These particles are made of solid or liquid drops with diameter that are usually 2.5 micrometers and small.
How small is 2.5 micrometer? Think about the same hair with your head. The average human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter – it is 30 times larger than the largest perfect particle.
© 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Go to AJC.com. Distributed by Tribune Material Agency, LLC.