Traffic pollution may lead to Alzheimer's plaque-buildup in brain

A recent study published in Neurology suggests a potential link between traffic-related air pollution and the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from Emory University in Georgia examined brain tissue from 224 individuals to explore this association.

The study participants, who had an average age of 76 at death, were found to have higher levels of amyloid plaques in their brains if they had higher exposure to air pollution one and three years before death. Individuals with higher PM 2.5 exposure were nearly twice as likely to have elevated levels of plaques.

Anke Huels from Emory University emphasized the significance of these findings, stating that “fine particulate matter from traffic-related air pollution affects the amount of amyloid plaque in the brain.” However, more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of this relationship.

Additionally, the study explored the impact of the main gene variant associated with Alzheimer’s disease, APOE e4, on the connection between air pollution and Alzheimer’s signs in the brain. Interestingly, the strongest relationship between air pollution and Alzheimer’s signs was observed among individuals without the gene variant.

Huels suggested that environmental factors such as air pollution could play a role in Alzheimer’s disease development in patients where genetics alone cannot explain the condition. This highlights the importance of further investigation into the potential impact of air pollution on brain health and neurodegenerative diseases.