Dementia(Memory Loss) Risk Is Increased By Air Pollution

 The threat that Air Pollution poses to public health has grown lately. It has been connected to several circulatory and pulmonary diseases. Recent research, however, also raised the possibility that Dementia risk may rise due to Air Pollution.

Dementia Risk Is Increased By Air Pollution

Researchers says that Dementia risk is increased by air Pollution. A neurological condition called Dementia impacts memory, intellect, and behavior. Millions of individuals globally are afflicted by this crippling illness.

 

The World Health Organization estimates that 50 million people worldwide suffer from Dementia, and by 2050, that figure is anticipated to have tripled.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other Dementias are more likely to develop as well as cognitive loss when people are exposed to Air Pollution. 

It's critical to assess the potential effects on the health of the particular person with Dementia or the person providing care for them if you have Dementia or have a family member who does.

 Dr. Rakesh Chandra Roy is a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at the South Royalton Mandyck Centre for Health Care Research in London and deals with Dementia-affected households.

 According to Dr. Roy, arterial effects and many other diseases linked to Dementia are brought on by Air Pollution. We are more susceptible to these diseases as our brain matures.

Dr. Roy is part of the team from Kolkata, India who traveled to Europe to train doctors on how best they could help families impacted by AD. He and his colleagues went along to study and examine the effects it had on individuals. They found that there was significant damage to the hippocampus the region responsible for memory. This area is very important in cognitive function and mental functioning.

Furthermore, he and others have also shown that Air Pollution due to cigarette smoke also causes this neurodegenerative condition, as do smoking and passive smoking. 

However, unlike passive smoking, once an individual is exposed to a heavy cigarette, the effect of Air Pollution is more than direct tobacco exposure. Once exposed to both air pollutants and tobacco, the severity of the neurocognitive symptoms increases. 

In addition, the duration of these damaging effects can be up to ten years.

According to one research, prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke led to structural changes in the brain that were comparable to those brought on by nicotine.

 It is crucial to realize that secondhand smoke does not have the same negative impacts on cognition as nicotine.

If I see someone smoking at home without engaging in any physical exercise, we instantly teach them about the dangers of tobacco use, he continued.

 As a result, they are less likely to acquire cancer or COPD. We then provide them with advice on how to behave. We have been able to lower the frequency of Dementia with the aid of this strategy.

A frequent complication of Type 2 diabetes is peripheral neuropathy, or PANS, which is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the limbs. A 2020 research found that more than 35% of type 2 diabetics reported having PANS.

As a result, high blood pressure, poor glucose regulation, and insulin resistance may contribute to PANS. Low levels of blood lipids and low cholesterol may make the artery walls more vulnerable to plaque build-up.

Additionally, low vitamin C intake may increase the development or progression of PANS and peripheral neuropathy.

Dr. Rajeev Mishra, Professor of Diabetes, Department of Medicine, Kolkata Medical College & Hospital, said: "The cardiovascular system is the source of energy that protects us from infection.

 Therefore, maintaining a healthy heart, blood vessels, and endothelium is necessary to provide good protection against all forms of infections."

"Exposure to harmful particles like smoke, dust, fumes, and gases causes inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial impairment leading to cell death and subsequent neuronal apoptosis and impaired cognition," he explained.

To prevent neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, individuals with prediabetes or diabetes need to maintain a healthy lifestyle as recommended by current medical guidelines.

These include eating healthy food, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and taking medications as directed. Furthermore, individuals should talk with their primary healthcare provider if they have concerns about a particular condition or routine care, especially those who have any questions about medication side effects.

If you or anyone is concerned about their long-term health, it is important to discuss any underlying health problems they may be having and their treatment options should they occur.

In conclusion, Air Pollution is a serious threat to public health and could increase the risk of Dementia. While reducing Air Pollution may not eliminate the risk of Dementia, it could be an important step in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. 

Governments and individuals need to take action to reduce Air Pollution and protect public health.