Air Pollution and 'Premature' Brain Aging

In the latest scientific and environmental journals published in July and August 2015, several new studies related to the effects of air pollution on humans have been released, indicating that the harmful impact of air pollution is much more severe and widespread than previously understood. Researchers from MIT and other environmental studies have suggested a potential link between air pollution and an increased incidence of brain diseases. A study involving 1,403 women aged 70 and older examined the effects of polluted air on their brains. A similar study on 95,690 elderly individuals in Taiwan over ten consecutive years found an increase in brain changes and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Farin Kamangar, a professor and head of the Public Health Analysis Department at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, highlights one of the most significant studies in this area: "This study, published in the prestigious journal 'Annals of Neurology,' shows that airborne particles causing pollution can reduce brain volume. It specifically indicates that a decrease in the volume of white matter occurs, which mainly includes communication pathways between different cells. If the volume of white matter decreases, it leads to accelerated brain aging and cognitive decline. This study has shown that if certain pollutants known as PM 2.5 increase by 3.5 micrograms per cubic meter, brain volume can decrease by about six cubic centimeters, equivalent to aging the brain by one to two years." According to research conducted by Ibn Krass, an environmental pollutant researcher at MIT, airborne particles have been measured in specific environments; these particles result from vehicle emissions that are constantly on the streets and highways. Fine and ultrafine particles, often from incomplete combustion of vehicles, combine with toxic substances such as sulfates, nitrates, ammonium ions, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, which we breathe in. These fine airborne particles can cause premature death of brain and nerve cells and lead to mysterious and horrifying diseases in humans. Although this research is in its early stages, autopsies of individuals who lived in polluted environments show similar effects that likely contributed to the development of these diseases. According to these studies, brain diseases in these individuals have a direct correlation with air pollution and the decline of their mental capacity. Dr. Farin Kamangar, head and professor of the Epidemiology Department at Morgan University in Baltimore, discusses the destructive effects of air pollution on human health mentioned in these studies: "Studies have shown that cardiovascular diseases, strokes, respiratory diseases, and some cancers are increasing. Overall, according to these studies, air pollution can lead to a reduction in lifespan." He noted that there was a time when researchers wanted to examine the effects of air pollution on health, particularly cancer. Between 1900 and 1950, lung cancer became very prevalent in Western countries: "One of the factors thought to contribute to this increase was air pollution. In 1950, it was discovered that the main cause of lung cancer was smoking. However, today attention has turned back to air pollution. Over the past 20 years, many studies have been conducted on air pollution. An increase in air pollution levels is directly related to increased mortality. As a result of these studies, many of the harmful effects of air pollution on the heart, brain, lungs, and other organs have been identified. Today, there is significant effort in Western countries to reduce air pollution." Air pollution has long been a familiar issue for Iranians. At least seven major cities in Iran have reported very poor air quality. Dust storms in Khuzestan and Ilam, sandstorms in Sistan, pollution from industrial activities in Isfahan, Arak, and Ahvaz, and urban pollution in cities like Tehran are just some of the recurring issues in news reports. Research on this topic has indicated that the thought of what polluted cities people around the world live in and the dangers they face is frightening. Farin Kamangar, head of the Epidemiology Department at Morgan State University in Baltimore, also discusses the impact of these pollutants on people in major Iranian cities: "We need to see how much of these pollutants exist in Tehran, Mashhad, or other major cities worldwide like Beijing and New York and compare them with areas that have less pollution to understand their impact better." Traffic on streets and highways, living near roads or highways, and living in car-filled cities with old vehicles affect the air quality we breathe. More polluted environments are formed, producing more airborne particles, which, according to these studies, affect the brain and nerves. Currently, 50 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Air quality in Iran is worsening day by day, while according to Farin Kamangar, air quality in Western countries is improving: "In 1970, a law was passed in the United States called the 'Clean Air Act,' which established standards to reduce pollutant levels to a specified extent. This had a significant impact, and efforts were made to reduce pollution from vehicle engines and decrease gasoline and diesel consumption. They aimed to make engines cleaner and reduce pollution from heating homes with coal. The effects of these factors are indeed very significant in Western countries. However, they influence the entire world. When vehicle standards improve, their export to other countries also impacts air cleanliness in those regions. As a result of these standards, today's air is much cleaner than what was seen in Western countries 50-60 years ago."