Air pollution linked to Alzheimer’s, study says

(WVIR) – A new study links air pollution to signs of  Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the study, people who inhale higher concentrations of small airborne particles such as exhaust from vehicles, are more likely to have signs of the disease in their brains.

The research also found a strong link between pollution and signs of Alzheimer’s for people who were not already genetically predisposed to the disease.

The study was done using tissue from more than 200 donors in the Atlanta area who had volunteered to donate their brains to research before their deaths.

Donors who lived in areas with high levels of traffic-related air pollution had more Alzheimer’s-related plaques in their brains than donors who lived in areas with lower air pollution.

This is just the latest in growing body of research showing a connection between air quality and cognitive decline.