Skip to main content
The Actuary: The magazine of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries - return to the homepage Logo of The Actuary website
  • Search
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Logo of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Main navigation

  • News
  • Features
    • General Features
    • Interviews
    • Students
    • Opinion
  • Topics
  • Knowledge
    • Business Skills
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Predictions by The Actuary
    • Whitepapers
    • Moody's - Climate Risk Insurers series
    • Webinars
    • Podcasts
  • Jobs
  • IFoA
    • CEO Comment
    • IFoA News
    • People & Social News
    • President Comment
  • Archive
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Sections
  • News

Improving air quality found to reduce dementia risk

Open-access content Tuesday 27th July 2021
Improving air quality found to reduce dementia risk

Improving air quality may boost cognitive function and reduce dementia risk, according to multiple studies unveiled at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2021 yesterday.

One study by the University of Southern California assessed the cognitive function of women aged 74-92 over 10 years, and found that those located in areas with higher reductions in PM2.5 particles and NO2 traffic-related pollutants saw their risk of dementia fall by 14% and 26%, respectively.

Benefits were also seen for slower decline in overall cognitive function and memory – similar to women one to two years younger – and on specific tests of working memory and attention.

“Our findings are important because they strengthen the evidence that high levels of outdoor air pollution in later life harm our brains, and also provide new evidence that by improving air quality, we may be able to significantly reduce risk of cognitive decline and dementia,” said Xinhui Wang, study lead and assistant professor of research neurology at the University of Southern California.

Increasing levels of air pollution and cases of dementia are both worldwide public health crises, with approximately one in five deaths linked to breathing pollution caused by burning fossil fuels like coal.

Another study by the University of Washington found that longer exposure to air pollutants over a 20-year period was linked with higher beta amyloid levels in bloodstreams, which cause the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Meanwhile, a 10-year study of French adults by Noemie Letellier, postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Diego, observed a 15% reduced risk of dementia, and a 17% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, for every microgram of gaseous pollutant per cubic meter of air decrease in PM2.5.

This is the first time that accumulated evidence has shown that reducing pollution – especially fine particulates in the air and pollutants from fuel burning – is associated with lower risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“The findings have important implications to reinforce air quality standards to promote healthy ageing,” Letellier said.

“In the context of climate change, massive urbanisation and worldwide population ageing, it is crucial to accurately evaluate the influence of air pollution change on incident dementia to identify and recommend effective prevention strategies.”

 

Image credit: iStock

Author: Chris Seekings

You may also be interested in...

German insurers’ combined ratios could rise 5% due to floods

German insurers’ combined ratios could rise 5% due to floods

Last week's severe floods in Germany could add up to 5% to the country's non-life insurers’ net combined ratios, according to Fitch Ratings.
Wednesday 21st July 2021
Open-access content
Net-Zero Insurance Alliance launched ahead of COP26

Net-Zero Insurance Alliance launched ahead of COP26

Eight of the world’s leading insurers and reinsurers have committed to transition their underwriting portfolios to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with the formation of a new initiative.
Wednesday 14th July 2021
Open-access content
UN report warns of 'unprecedented' and 'irreversible' climate change

UN report warns of 'unprecedented' and 'irreversible' climate change

Man-made global warming has caused “unprecedented” changes to the climate, some of which are “irreversible” for thousands of years, a damning new UN report has claimed.
Tuesday 10th August 2021
Open-access content
Growing proportion of population exposed to floods worldwide

Growing proportion of population exposed to floods worldwide

The proportion of the global population exposed to floods has grown by a quarter since 2000, a 10-fold difference from what scientists previously thought, analysis has uncovered.
Monday 23rd August 2021
Open-access content
Guidance published to help insurers aid net-zero transition

Guidance published to help insurers aid net-zero transition

A new report has today been published by the global insurance industry group ClimateWise to help insurers play a more meaningful role in the decarbonisation of the global economy.
Wednesday 30th June 2021
Open-access content
Commercial insurance prices rise 15% worldwide

Commercial insurance prices rise 15% worldwide

Global commercial insurance prices increased by 15% in the second quarter of this year amid growing cyber security threats, according to analysis by Marsh.
Tuesday 27th July 2021
Open-access content
Filed in
News
Topics
Environment
Health care
Global
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Senior Reserving Analyst

London (City of)
Negotiable
Reference
149485

Senior GI Modeler - Capital and Planning

London (Central)
£ excellent
Reference
149436

Risk Oversight Manager

Flexible / hybrid with a minimum of 2 days per week office-based
£ excellent
Reference
149435
See all jobs »
 
 

Today's top reads

 
 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to The Actuary

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
Spread-iPad-slantB-june.png

Topics

  • Data Science
  • Investment
  • Risk & ERM
  • Pensions
  • Environment
  • Soft skills
  • General Insurance
  • Regulation Standards
  • Health care
  • Technology
  • Reinsurance
  • Global
  • Life insurance
​
FOLLOW US
The Actuary on LinkedIn
@TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Facebook: The Actuary Magazine
CONTACT US
The Actuary
Tel: (+44) 020 7880 6200
​

IFoA

About IFoA
Become an actuary
IFoA Events
About membership

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to The Actuary Magazine
Contribute

The Actuary Jobs

Actuarial job search
Pensions jobs
General insurance jobs
Solvency II jobs

© 2023 The Actuary. The Actuary is published on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries by Redactive Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ