Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019
Abstract Background Emerging research found air pollution may be associated with incident Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. However, few studies have examined these associations at the global scale. This study aimed to assess the dynamic associations between ambient air pollution and the...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21600-2 |
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| author | Cui Guo Dongze Wu Jun Yang Xingcheng Lu Xiang Yan Chen Jun Ma Changqing Lin Alexis K. H. Lau Yingzhao Jin Ruiyun Li Shenjing He |
| author_facet | Cui Guo Dongze Wu Jun Yang Xingcheng Lu Xiang Yan Chen Jun Ma Changqing Lin Alexis K. H. Lau Yingzhao Jin Ruiyun Li Shenjing He |
| author_sort | Cui Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Emerging research found air pollution may be associated with incident Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. However, few studies have examined these associations at the global scale. This study aimed to assess the dynamic associations between ambient air pollution and the burden of AD and other dementias worldwide. Methods This study synthesised 149 countries/territories between 1990 and 2019. These data include age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of AD and other dementias, ambient air pollution (fine particulate matter [PM2.5], NO2 and O3 concentration) and a series of covariates were from various source. Average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) were calculated to investigate the temporal variations. Linear mixed models were adopted to assess the associations with single- and multi-pollutant separately. The associations between air pollution changes and the AD and other dementias were also examined using linear regression models. Stratified analyses by Global North–South divide and human development index were performed to explore the potential inequity in air pollution impacts. Results During 1990–2019, the global ASMR, DALYs and O3 increased by 0.11%, 0.09%, and 0.17% per year, respectively. In contrast, PM2.5 and NO2 decreased by 0.33% and 0.14% per year, respectively. Each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 0.118 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.060 − 0.175) higher ASMR and 0.966 (95%CI: 0.321 − 1.611) higher DALYs after adjusting for all the covariates. The ASMR increased by 0.112 and the DALYs increased by 1.068 for each 10 µg/m3 increase in O3. The NO2–dementia associations were relatively weak. Stronger O3–dementia associations were found in the Global South than those in the Global North. Conclusions The burden of dementia is expected to increase globally, given the continuously expansion of the ageing population. Air pollution was found to be significantly associated with a higher burden of AD and dementia. As a persistent challenge in urban cities, air pollution demands strict regulatory control. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ed5dc6efe14343738b6cc76d588514dd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-ed5dc6efe14343738b6cc76d588514dd2025-02-02T12:46:18ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111210.1186/s12889-025-21600-2Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019Cui Guo0Dongze Wu1Jun Yang2Xingcheng Lu3Xiang Yan Chen4Jun Ma5Changqing Lin6Alexis K. H. Lau7Yingzhao Jin8Ruiyun Li9Shenjing He10Department of Urban Planning and Design, the University of Hong KongDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Geography and Resource Management, the Chinese University of Hong KongDivision of Science, Engineering, and Health Studies, College of Professional and Continuing Education, Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Urban Planning and Design, the University of Hong KongAnhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong KongKey Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Urban Planning and Design, the University of Hong KongAbstract Background Emerging research found air pollution may be associated with incident Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. However, few studies have examined these associations at the global scale. This study aimed to assess the dynamic associations between ambient air pollution and the burden of AD and other dementias worldwide. Methods This study synthesised 149 countries/territories between 1990 and 2019. These data include age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of AD and other dementias, ambient air pollution (fine particulate matter [PM2.5], NO2 and O3 concentration) and a series of covariates were from various source. Average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) were calculated to investigate the temporal variations. Linear mixed models were adopted to assess the associations with single- and multi-pollutant separately. The associations between air pollution changes and the AD and other dementias were also examined using linear regression models. Stratified analyses by Global North–South divide and human development index were performed to explore the potential inequity in air pollution impacts. Results During 1990–2019, the global ASMR, DALYs and O3 increased by 0.11%, 0.09%, and 0.17% per year, respectively. In contrast, PM2.5 and NO2 decreased by 0.33% and 0.14% per year, respectively. Each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 0.118 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.060 − 0.175) higher ASMR and 0.966 (95%CI: 0.321 − 1.611) higher DALYs after adjusting for all the covariates. The ASMR increased by 0.112 and the DALYs increased by 1.068 for each 10 µg/m3 increase in O3. The NO2–dementia associations were relatively weak. Stronger O3–dementia associations were found in the Global South than those in the Global North. Conclusions The burden of dementia is expected to increase globally, given the continuously expansion of the ageing population. Air pollution was found to be significantly associated with a higher burden of AD and dementia. As a persistent challenge in urban cities, air pollution demands strict regulatory control.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21600-2Air pollutionAlzheimer’s disease and other dementiasGlobal burden of Disease studyInequityHealthy ageing cities |
| spellingShingle | Cui Guo Dongze Wu Jun Yang Xingcheng Lu Xiang Yan Chen Jun Ma Changqing Lin Alexis K. H. Lau Yingzhao Jin Ruiyun Li Shenjing He Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019 BMC Public Health Air pollution Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias Global burden of Disease study Inequity Healthy ageing cities |
| title | Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019 |
| title_full | Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019 |
| title_fullStr | Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019 |
| title_short | Ambient air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: a global study between 1990 and 2019 |
| title_sort | ambient air pollution and alzheimer s disease and other dementias a global study between 1990 and 2019 |
| topic | Air pollution Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias Global burden of Disease study Inequity Healthy ageing cities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21600-2 |
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