Associations between life course exposure to ambient air pollution with cognition and later-life brain structure: a population-based study of the 1946 British Birth Cohort

TY - JOUR

T1 - Associations between life course exposure to ambient air pollution with cognition and later-life brain structure: a population-based study of the 1946 British Birth Cohort

AU - Canning, Tom

AU - Arias de la Torre, Jorge

AU - Fisher, Helen

AU - Gulliver, John

AU - Hansell, Anna

AU - Hardy, Rebecca

AU - Hatch, Stephani

AU - Mudway, Ian

AU - Ronaldson, Amy

AU - Cartlidge, Molly

AU - James, Sarah-Naomi

AU - Keuss, Sarah E

AU - Schott, Jonathan M.

AU - Richards, Marcus

AU - Bakolis, Ioannis

PY - 2025/5/6

Y1 - 2025/5/6

N2 - Background This study aimed to extend the limited existing research linking higher air pollution exposure to late-life cognitive impairment by incorporating life course exposures, cognition and neuroimaging in older age.MethodsWe utilised data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (the 1946 birth cohort, NSHD, N=1761) and the neuroimaging sub-study, Insight 46 (N=453). Air pollution data was available for NO2 (ages 45-64), PM10 (ages 55-64), and NOx, PM2·5, PMcoarse and PM2·5abs (ages 60-64), with adjustments for early-life exposures to Black Smoke and SO2. Verbal memory and processing speed were tested at ages 43, 53, 60-64, and 69 years. The Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III), a measure of cognitive state, was conducted at age 69. Neuroimaging measures including whole brain, ventricular, hippocampal, and white matter hyperintensity volumes were assessed at ages 69-71. Generalised (mixed) linear models were used to explore associations between pollution exposure, cognitive and neuroimaging measures, adjusted for socio-demographics, smoking, and neighbourhood deprivation. FindingsHigher exposure to NO2 and PM10 was associated with slower processing speed between ages 45 and 69 (NO2:β=-8·121, 95%CI:-10·338, -5·905 per interquartile range increase in exposure). Higher exposure to all pollutants was associated with lower ACE-III score at age 69 (NO2:β=-0·589, 95%CI:-0.921, -0·257). Higher exposure to NOx was associated with smaller hippocampal volume at ages 69-71 (β=-0·088, 95%CI:-0·172, -0·004), and higher NO2 and PM10 exposure with larger ventricular volume (NO2:β=2·259, 95%CI:-0·457, 4·061). InterpretationAcknowledging the likely impact of early-life exposure, higher pollution exposure in mid-to-late life was associated with worse cognition, processing speed, and brain structure outcomes, strengthening evidence for adverse effects of air pollution on brain functioning in older age. FundingNSHD is hosted by the Medical Research Council. Insight 46 is funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Association, MRC Dementias Platform UK, Wolfson Foundation, the MRC and Brain Research UK.  

AB - Background This study aimed to extend the limited existing research linking higher air pollution exposure to late-life cognitive impairment by incorporating life course exposures, cognition and neuroimaging in older age.MethodsWe utilised data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (the 1946 birth cohort, NSHD, N=1761) and the neuroimaging sub-study, Insight 46 (N=453). Air pollution data was available for NO2 (ages 45-64), PM10 (ages 55-64), and NOx, PM2·5, PMcoarse and PM2·5abs (ages 60-64), with adjustments for early-life exposures to Black Smoke and SO2. Verbal memory and processing speed were tested at ages 43, 53, 60-64, and 69 years. The Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III), a measure of cognitive state, was conducted at age 69. Neuroimaging measures including whole brain, ventricular, hippocampal, and white matter hyperintensity volumes were assessed at ages 69-71. Generalised (mixed) linear models were used to explore associations between pollution exposure, cognitive and neuroimaging measures, adjusted for socio-demographics, smoking, and neighbourhood deprivation. FindingsHigher exposure to NO2 and PM10 was associated with slower processing speed between ages 45 and 69 (NO2:β=-8·121, 95%CI:-10·338, -5·905 per interquartile range increase in exposure). Higher exposure to all pollutants was associated with lower ACE-III score at age 69 (NO2:β=-0·589, 95%CI:-0.921, -0·257). Higher exposure to NOx was associated with smaller hippocampal volume at ages 69-71 (β=-0·088, 95%CI:-0·172, -0·004), and higher NO2 and PM10 exposure with larger ventricular volume (NO2:β=2·259, 95%CI:-0·457, 4·061). InterpretationAcknowledging the likely impact of early-life exposure, higher pollution exposure in mid-to-late life was associated with worse cognition, processing speed, and brain structure outcomes, strengthening evidence for adverse effects of air pollution on brain functioning in older age. FundingNSHD is hosted by the Medical Research Council. Insight 46 is funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Association, MRC Dementias Platform UK, Wolfson Foundation, the MRC and Brain Research UK.  

M3 - Article

SN - 2666-7568

JO - The Lancet Healthy Longevity

JF - The Lancet Healthy Longevity

ER -