Air pollution linked to stroke, cognitive decline

Boston, MA, United States (AHN) – People living in cities may be more likely to suffer a stroke as a study finds moderate levels of car pollution increase the risk by a third.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, investigated the medical records of 1,705 women with an average age of 71 and living in Boston, and compared days with moderate air pollution with days when it was forecast as good.

Among the findings, the chances of having a stroke on days when there was moderate pollution was 34 percent higher than on good days.

The researchers from Brown University concluded that the results “suggest that particulate matter exposure increases the risk of ischemic stroke at levels below those currently considered safe under U.S. regulations.”

These associations were observed within hours of exposure, and are most strongly associated with pollution from local or mass traffic emissions, according to the study.

Another study in the journal also linked air pollution to cognitive decline in older women.

That study, from Harvard School of Public Health and Rush University Medical Center, found long term exposure to air pollution was linked to cognitive declines.

Health experts say that more research is needed, but they stress that everyone can reduce their risk of stroke by eating a healthy diet, exercising and have blood pressure checked regularly.

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