In a large cohort of people with dementia in South London, researchers have showed that exposure to higher levels of pollution was associated with increased use of mental health services, particularly in people with vascular dementia.
Higher levels of both PM2.5 and NO2 were associated with this increase. Dr Susan Mitchell, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “If this government is serious about improving lifelong health and reducing the burden on our NHS, it can’t continue to turn a blind eye to air pollution. Poor air quality is a significant public health issue, and this new research demonstrates its knock-on effect on already over-stretched health services and the lives of people living with dementia.
“But the government are dragging their feet on implementing stricter air quality standards, with a plan to reach 10 µg/m3 PM2.5 by 2040. We think that's a decade too late. By that time, there will be an estimated 1.2 million people living with dementia in the UK, many of whom will have been exposed to unacceptable levels of air pollution while the government fails to act.
“As well as urgent action to bring levels down, there is a pressing need to find out more about exactly how air pollution affects dementia risk. This evidence will allow government and policymakers to develop policies that can reduce the impact of air pollution exposure on people at risk of developing dementia, and those living with the condition.”
‘Associations between air pollution and mental health service use in dementia: a retrospective cohort study’ by Ronaldson et al., was published in the BMJ
