A Faculty of Medicine professor has played a key role in a new report which says air pollution is likely to increase the risk of developing dementia.
The Cognitive decline, dementia and air pollution report was launched by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants.
Professor Roxana Carare (www.cararegroup.org) was a member of the committee, which reviewed almost 70 studies that analysed how exposure to emissions affect the brain over time.
The report concludes that air pollution is likely to increase the risk of accelerated “cognitive decline” and of “developing dementia” in older people.
Professor Carare said: “After several years of work we have shown there is a link between the risk of dementia and air pollution, most likely driven through cerebrovascular mechanisms.
“Alzheimer’s and dementia are devastating conditions affecting millions of people around the world. Pollution is rising everywhere and will contribute to rising numbers of this disease. More research is needed to provide further understanding of these links so we can develop preventative measure for the benefit of everyone.”
Professor Carare’s postdoctoral fellow, Dr Louise Kelly, is currently studying how air pollution interferes with the clearance of fluid and proteins from the brain (Tubeproject (tube-project.eu)).