Air Pollution and Dementia : Evidence from Epidemiological Studies
Oudin, Anna LU
(2025)
p.135-156
- Abstract
This chapter reviews the growing body of epidemiological evidence linking long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). With air pollution now recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor, the chapter explores mechanistic pathways, such as neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, through which pollutants like PM2.5 and NO₂ may contribute to neurodegeneration. It discusses dementia subtypes, highlighting the need for subtype-specific analyses given their differing pathologies and risk factors. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of life course exposure assessment and the potential roles of co-exposures such as noise and lack of... (More)
This chapter reviews the growing body of epidemiological evidence linking long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). With air pollution now recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor, the chapter explores mechanistic pathways, such as neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, through which pollutants like PM2.5 and NO₂ may contribute to neurodegeneration. It discusses dementia subtypes, highlighting the need for subtype-specific analyses given their differing pathologies and risk factors. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of life course exposure assessment and the potential roles of co-exposures such as noise and lack of green space, which are often correlated with air pollution but understudied in relation to cognitive decline. A review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses reveals consistent associations between PM2.5 and dementia risk, though evidence remains limited for other pollutants. The chapter calls for future studies to adopt multi-exposure frameworks, improve exposure and outcome assessments, and include underrepresented populations in high-pollution areas, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Establishing a causal link between air pollution and dementia could significantly strengthen the case for environmental interventions as a public health strategy to reduce the burden of dementia worldwide.
(Less)
- author
- Oudin, Anna
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-01-01
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Air pollution, Alzheimer’s disease, Cognitive decline, Dementia, Environmental epidemiology, Vascular dementia
- host publication
- Air Pollution and the Brain
- pages
- 22 pages
- publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105022329489
- ISBN
- 9783031993022
- 9783031993015
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-031-99302-2_7
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 081f0d34-3766-418d-b7f0-a2fe0836a65c
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-09 13:57:12
- date last changed
- 2026-02-09 13:58:03
@inbook{081f0d34-3766-418d-b7f0-a2fe0836a65c,
abstract = {{<p>This chapter reviews the growing body of epidemiological evidence linking long-term exposure to ambient air pollution with increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). With air pollution now recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor, the chapter explores mechanistic pathways, such as neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, through which pollutants like PM2.5 and NO₂ may contribute to neurodegeneration. It discusses dementia subtypes, highlighting the need for subtype-specific analyses given their differing pathologies and risk factors. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of life course exposure assessment and the potential roles of co-exposures such as noise and lack of green space, which are often correlated with air pollution but understudied in relation to cognitive decline. A review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses reveals consistent associations between PM2.5 and dementia risk, though evidence remains limited for other pollutants. The chapter calls for future studies to adopt multi-exposure frameworks, improve exposure and outcome assessments, and include underrepresented populations in high-pollution areas, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Establishing a causal link between air pollution and dementia could significantly strengthen the case for environmental interventions as a public health strategy to reduce the burden of dementia worldwide.</p>}},
author = {{Oudin, Anna}},
booktitle = {{Air Pollution and the Brain}},
isbn = {{9783031993022}},
keywords = {{Air pollution; Alzheimer’s disease; Cognitive decline; Dementia; Environmental epidemiology; Vascular dementia}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
pages = {{135--156}},
publisher = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
title = {{Air Pollution and Dementia : Evidence from Epidemiological Studies}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-99302-2_7}},
doi = {{10.1007/978-3-031-99302-2_7}},
year = {{2025}},
}