Air pollution reduces white matter of brain

In a new study, scientist has claimed that air pollution could cut down the white matter in our brains.

"Investigating the impact of air pollution on the human brain is a new area of environmental neurosciences," said Dr. Jiu-Chiuan Chen, lead author of the Annals of Neurology study.

For the study, the researchers examined MRIs of 1403 women belonging to the age group of 71 to 89 years. They also used residential histories and air monitoring data to estimate their exposure to air pollution in the previous 6 to 7 years.

They found that, older women who lived in places with higher air pollution had significantly reduced white matter in the brain. The findings suggest that ambient particulate air pollutants may have a deleterious effect on brain aging.

"Our study provides the convincing evidence that several parts of the aging brain, especially the white matter, are an important target of neurotoxic effects induced by long-term exposure to fine particles in the ambient air," he said.

The study was published in Annals of Neurology.

By Lizitha