Air pollution prematurely ages the brain

Older people living in areas with high levels of air pollution, have a three-year old brain more than their peers from non-safe areas. Brain Age is estimated by its cognitive function.

Researchers from the University of Southern California have come to the conclusion that air pollution   causes brain aging   human. Older people from areas with low air quality worse than coping with the thinking tests than those who resided in environmentally friendly areas. Scientists emphasize that during the aging process, which adversely affect the health and the human brain, the impact of environmental factors is particularly noticeable.

" Air pollution   long been associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and premature death in the elderly, - said study author Associate Professor Jennifer Eylshayr. - We found evidence that contact with certain particles in the atmosphere has a negative impact on the health and functioning of the brain. "

The study involved 14,793 men and women aged 50 years and older. Their performance tests of cognitive scientists compared the level of air pollution in areas where the volunteers live. A clear link between a poor environment and the aging brain traced even when the researchers took into account other factors as age, race, education, smoking, lung and heart disorders.

Even the presence of ten micrograms of harmful particles per cubic meter of air leads to a decrease in performance on cognitive tests third paragraph. The worst pollution was at 20, 7 micrograms per cubic meter, which caused brain aging Equivalent to three years.

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