Scottish researchers may have uncovered a worrying link between childhood air pollution and dementia later in life. The first hints of this connection emerged two decades ago when researchers in Mexico City found brain changes in dogs exposed to polluted air. Fast forward to 2022, and a UK government review of 69 studies concluded that air pollution likely accelerates cognitive decline and raises dementia risks.
The Study
The StudyNow, new evidence suggests the damage may begin before we even take our first steps. The study, led by Otto-Emil Jutila from the University of Edinburgh, followed over 1,000 people born in 1936 in Edinburgh. By analyzing their brain health and air pollution levels in their childhood neighborhoods, researchers found a striking pattern. Higher pollution in 1936 was linked to an increased risk of dementia decades later, including Alzheimer’s. This period coincided with participants’ time in the womb or infancy.
