Air pollution is a serious environmental risk and a threat to health for millions around the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 8 million deaths are attributed to conditions associated with air pollution around the world. In the U.S., around 136 million people live in areas where there is an unhealthy level of air pollution. Air pollution has been connected to several diseases, such as asthma, heart disease, COPD, and stroke. Certain populations are more vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution–like children, older adults, minority communities and low-income individuals.

Demonstrating that air pollution can have neurodegenerative effects have been difficult. “Only recently has new research begun to paint a picture of air pollution as dangerous not only for the heart and lungs but potentially for the brain, as well.”

“Further research by scientists at USC and around the world have strengthened the link between air pollution and neurodegenerative disease…there is now a series of papers showing that brain atrophy and cognitive disorders are directly related to how much air pollution someone has been exposed to.”

“Population-based studies have come into complete agreement on three continents — North America, Western Europe, and Asia — that air pollution above a certain level predicts a higher risk of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s, and cognitive decline. That’s now proven by at least 10 major studies,” said Caleb Finch, a biomedical gerontologist.

Over the last several decades, there have been growing concerns about air pollution particularly in light of climate change. Without improvements, air pollution will continue to harm generations into the future. Addressing the role air pollution plays in disease burden and the disparities in exposure to environmental pollution is important to moving forward.