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Long-term exposure to air pollution may increase the risk of developing Lewy body and Parkinson’s disease-related dementias, according to a joint study by Aarhus University and the University of Florida reported by Danish broadcaster DR.
The findings are based on an extensive analysis of anonymized health and environmental data from more than 2 million people in Denmark aged between 65 and 95.
Researchers assessed air pollution exposure at participants’ residential addresses over a 10-year period prior to dementia diagnoses.
The study identified a correlation between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide—pollutants commonly generated by road traffic, shipping activity, and fuel combustion—and a higher incidence of the two neurological conditions.
According to the researchers, even relatively low levels of daily exposure may contribute to increased neurological risk over time. However, they emphasized that the study is observational in nature and does not establish a direct causal relationship between air pollution and dementia.
The authors also acknowledged several limitations, including the lack of detailed data on individual lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet, and other environmental or health variables that could influence the results.
Jakob Christensen, chief physician at Aarhus University Hospital, said the findings suggest that air pollution may be one of several environmental contributors to the development of dementia-related diseases.
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