Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Cognitive Function Among Older US Adults

Existing research on the adverse health effects of exposure to pollution has devoted relatively little attention to the potential impact of ambient air pollution on cognitive function in older adults. We examined the cross-sectional association between residential concentrations of particulate matte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of epidemiology 2014-08, Vol.180 (4), p.359-366
Main Authors: AILSHIRE, Jennifer A, CRIMMINS, Eileen M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Air
Air pollution
Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding
Airborne particulates
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition & reasoning
Cognition - drug effects
Cognition Disorders - chemically induced
Cross-Sectional Studies
Environment. Living conditions
Environmental pollutants toxicology
Female
Human exposure
Humans
Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects
Male
Medical sciences
Memory
Memory, Episodic
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Older people
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Outdoor air quality
Particulate Matter - adverse effects
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Socioeconomic Factors
Toxicology
United States - epidemiology
Urban Population - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:Existing research on the adverse health effects of exposure to pollution has devoted relatively little attention to the potential impact of ambient air pollution on cognitive function in older adults. We examined the cross-sectional association between residential concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and cognitive function in older adults. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we analyzed data from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study, a large, nationally representative sample of US adults aged 50 years or older. We linked participant data with 2000 US Census tract data and 2004 census tract-level annual average PM2.5 concentrations. Older adults living in areas with higher PM2.5 concentrations had worse cognitive function (β = -0.26, 95% confidence interval: -0.47, -0.05) even after adjustment for community- and individual-level social and economic characteristics. Results suggest that the association is strongest for the episodic memory component of cognitive function. This study adds to a growing body of research highlighting the importance of air pollution to cognitive function in older adults. Improving air quality in large metropolitan areas, where much of the aging US population resides, may be an important mechanism for reducing age-related cognitive decline.
ISSN:0002-9262
1476-6256
DOI:10.1093/aje/kwu155