Life course air pollution exposure and cognitive decline: modelled historical air pollution data and the Lothian birth cohort 1936

Russ, Tom C.; Cherrie, Mark P.C.; Dibben, Chris; Tomlinson, Sam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3237-7596; Reis, Stefan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2428-8320; Dragosits, Ulrike ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9283-6467; Vieno, Massimo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7741-9377; Beck, Rachel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9645-8001; Carnell, Ed ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0870-1955; Shortt, Niamh K.; Muniz-Terrera, Graciela; Redmond, Paul; Taylor, Adele M.; Clemens, Tom; van Tongeren, Martie; Agius, Raymond M.; Starr, John M.; Deary, Ian J.; Pearce, Jamie R.. 2021 Life course air pollution exposure and cognitive decline: modelled historical air pollution data and the Lothian birth cohort 1936. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 79 (3). 1063-1074. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200910

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Abstract/Summary

Background: Air pollution has been consistently linked with dementia and cognitive decline. However, it is unclear whether risk is accumulated through long-term exposure or whether there are sensitive/critical periods. A key barrier to clarifying this relationship is the dearth of historical air pollution data. Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of modelling historical air pollution data and using them in epidemiological models. Methods: Using the EMEP4UK atmospheric chemistry transport model, we modelled historical fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations for the years 1935, 1950, 1970, 1980, and 1990 and combined these with contemporary modelled data from 2001 to estimate life course exposure in 572 participants in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 with lifetime residential history recorded. Linear regression and latent growth models were constructed using cognitive ability (IQ) measured by the Moray House Test at the ages of 11, 70, 76, and 79 years to explore the effects of historical air pollution exposure. Covariates included sex, IQ at age 11 years, social class, and smoking. Results: Higher air pollution modelled for 1935 (when participants would have been in utero) was associated with worse change in IQ from age 11-70 years (β=-0.006, SE=0.002, P=0.03) but not cognitive trajectories from age 70-79 years (P>0.05). There was no support for other critical/sensitive periods of exposure or an accumulation of risk (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The life course paradigm is essential in understanding cognitive decline and this is the first study to examine life course air pollution exposure in relation to cognitive health.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-200910
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects (Science Area 2017-) Pollution (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	1387-2877
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	aging, air pollution, Alzheimer’s disease, atmosphere, cognition, dementia, epidemiologic methods
NORA Subject Terms:	Health Atmospheric Sciences
Date made live:	15 Jan 2021 10:39 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529407

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