Air pollution from fine particulate matter linked to Alzheimer’s

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: RDNE Stock project

ABC News recently reported on a study from researchers at Emory University suggesting that fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, may be involved in causing 95% of Alzheimer’s disease cases. The study was published in PLOS Medicine and is open access.

Why am I writing about air pollution and Alzheimer’s Disease on a blog about noise? Noise is the unwanted soundtrack of all internal combustion engines. Noise by itself is associated, probably causally, with dementia in a dose-response relationship. More chronic noise exposure brings a higher risk of dementia.

Steps to reduce transportation noise, the most common source of noise pollution for most Americans, may also reduce air pollution if these efforts include electrification of cars, trains and airplanes. 

Quieter cleaner air, as part of a quieter world, will be a better and healthier world for all.