The Details
The #1 Threat to Global Health:
According to the the World Health Organization, climate change & air pollution is the #1 threat to global health.
At the Turn of the 21st Century:
Air pollution from diesel exhaust was first linked to brain function at the turn of the 21st Century (EPA US. Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) for Particulate Matter (Final Report, Dec 2019).
In 2020:
Air pollution was named one of the 12 modifiable risk factors for dementia & Alzheimer’s
disease by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care in 2020.
Today:
Air pollution is responsible for 6 million deaths per year (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation)
How It Happens:
Toxins enter directly into the brain via the nose. They also enter the bloodstream via the lungs.
Key Pollutants Associated with Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s:
Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) & Heat Trapping Gases (TRAP)
Traffic Pollution Has Been Connected With:
- Neurodevelopmental Delay
- Cognitive Impairment
- Cognitive Decline
- Altered Brain Anatomy