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Smog Might Cloud Your Memory - Mandatory#1 |
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by Rosa Domingos | 15-04-2019 19:37
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The very air you breathe may make you vulnerable to developing dementia, a new study suggests! British researchers found that people exposed to higher levels of air pollution had 40 percent higher odds of developing dementia. "We found that older patients across greater London who were living in areas with higher air pollution were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia in subsequent years," said study author Iain Carey. He's a senior lecturer in epidemiology at the University of London (News24, 2018). Carey said the increased risk persisted even after his team accounted for other factors that might increase dementia, such as smoking and diabetes. However, the researchers aren't suggesting that people need to abandon cities. "Since this is an observational study, any findings need to be treated with caution. It only tells us there may be a possible link between air pollution and dementia, and more research is needed to confirm and understand this," Carey said. Urban and suburban areas are more susceptible to air pollution due to it being closer to the point source as compared to rural areas (Nunez, 2019). Dementia is a catch-all term for a number of brain disorders that cause trouble with memory and thinking. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, according to the US-based Alzheimer's Association. The second most common form of dementia is called vascular dementia. This occurs when the brain is deprived of blood flow and oxygen due to other conditions, such as a stroke or a number of small strokes, the Alzheimer's Association explained (News24, 2018). The study focused on people who were eventually diagnosed with these two forms of dementia. The researchers began by reviewing the records of nearly 131 000 adults registered with 75 general physician practices in the London area. Carey said all of the locations were in urban areas. At the start of the study, all of the participants were between the ages of 50 and 79. None had been diagnosed with dementia. The researchers then estimated each person's annual exposure to air pollution, such as nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and ozone. They also estimated the participants' proximity to heavy traffic. After an average follow-up of seven years, almost 2 200 people - or nearly 2% of the total group - had been diagnosed with dementia (News24, 2018). Those living in the areas with the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide compared to those living with the lowest exposure had a 40% increased risk of developing dementia, the study found. The odds of an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis was 50% higher for people living with the highest exposure to nitrogen dioxide. Similar increases in risk were also seen for high levels of particulate matter. For other measures, such as ozone and distance to heavy traffic, the researchers said there was less evidence of any links. Carey said it's not clear why air pollution appears to be linked to dementia. He noted that other research has suggested that children's brain development may be affected by pollution. Heather Snyder, senior director of medical and scientific operations for the Alzheimer's Association, said this study "raises a lot of interesting questions." But she also said it's too soon to speculate how pollution might play a role in dementia. "Dementia is complex and there are lots of things that may contribute to dementia risk. I don't think you can draw any conclusions from this study," Snyder said (News24, 2018). Dementia occurs in people living all over – in urban, suburban and rural areas.But if you start looking at factors that might cause premature death of nerve cells in the brain, "living in an environment that is toxic to those cells from pollution is probably not healthy." Snyder recommended that if people are concerned about dementia, there are steps they can take to help prevent the disorder, or to potentially help slow the progress of dementia if you already have it. Steps that both experts recommended included getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet low in saturated fat with plenty of vegetables and fruits, getting adequate sleep, and keeping your brain engaged with things like puzzles, new learning and social activities(News24, 2018). Reference list: News24 - https://www.health24.com/Medical/Dementia/News/smog-might-cloud-your-memory-20180921 (12 Oct 2018) Christina Nunez - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution/ (4 Feb 2019)
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11 Comments
Greetings Rosa
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this report
Keep writing
Green cheers
Regards
Sus
Posted 15-03-2020 16:44
Hey Kushal!
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Rosa
Posted 21-06-2019 17:02
Hello Rosa
Thank you for your report about Smog Might Cloud Your Memory. As always, great report. I really enjoyed reading it. I believe that together we can beat air pollution. we can't stop breathing but we can stop pollution.
Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Regards,
Kushal Naharki
Posted 17-06-2019 03:40
Hi Mentor Wonhee,
Thank you for reading my report! I too was shocked at the fact that one could be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. But I do believe that with research being put in such case, the government will see the need to control pollutin emissions.
Posted 17-05-2019 18:45
Hi Mentor Louis,
Thank you for reading my report!
It is truely frightening that polluted air can bring about such diseases to the human body and the government should take actions into making sure that the health of their citizens is not compromised.
Posted 17-05-2019 18:40
Hello Rosa
Thank you for your report about the correlation between air pollution and dementia. The effects of air pollution (nitrogen dioxide or ozone) on human respiratory system and skin are well known. However, I didn??t know that it could also increase the odds of Alzheimer??s disease diagnosis. The result of these researches is truly surprising and gives another reason why we should try to stop air pollution. Keep up the good work : )
Wonhee Mentor
Posted 25-04-2019 18:28
Hi Rosa,
Thank you for your report! While I was taking Biology class last year, I learned that air pollution and its pollutants may possible cause dementia to us, which is terrifying. In fact, air pollution is very hazardous to human because it not only causes dementia, it causes many other health illnesses such as digestive disorder as well. This is why I think it is important for local government to take immediate actions! I am delighted to see that you actually talked about the actual disease that this air pollution may cause. Great work!
Louis Mentor
Posted 22-04-2019 16:58
Hey Asmita!
Thank you for reading my report. Truely, air pollution has brought a ripple effect in the resultant actions of humans. I do hope that we as a people see the seriousness of this type of pollution.
Posted 19-04-2019 16:58
Hello Rosa sis...
Air pollution and dementia, it??s completely new to me.
Whatever the alternative steps we take to control dementia the one of the best way to prevent it would be controlling air pollution. Thank you so much for this wonderful report.
Green cheers.
Posted 19-04-2019 02:13
Hi Anishka!
Very true, air pollution poses a grave threat to out health and we should start taking that into consideration, with regards to climate change and food security.
Thank you for reading and commenting Anishka!
Posted 15-04-2019 22:50
Hi Rosa, it is so alarming to know that air pollution can cause Dementia besides other harmful effects. Thanks for the detailed information.
Posted 15-04-2019 22:31