Air Pollution Linked to Increased Lewy Body Dementia Risk

A comprehensive study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University has established a direct molecular link between long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) and an increased risk of Lewy body dementia (LBD), the second most common form of dementia. The research reveals that inhaling PM2.5 triggers the formation of harmful alpha-synuclein protein aggregates in the brain, which are characteristic of LBD and Parkinson’s disease, leading to neuronal damage and cognitive decline. Analysis of hospital admissions data from 56.5 million people between 2000 and 2014 showed a significant association between PM2.5 exposure and a heightened risk of hospitalization for neurodegenerative diseases involving Lewy bodies. Experimental studies with mice confirmed that exposure to PM2.5 induces neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment unless the animals lacked the alpha-synuclein protein, underscoring its critical role in disease progression. These findings emphasize air pollution as a modifiable environmental risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that reducing emissions from traffic, industry, and other sources could lower dementia rates and improve public health. The study represents a significant advance in understanding how environmental factors contribute to brain diseases and offers potential targets for future therapeutic interventions.