New Delhi:A study conducted in 27.8 million people in the US has shown that exposure to air pollution can directly contribute towards increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, rather than causing indirectly through chronic conditions such as hypertension and stroke.

The findings, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, also reveal that people with a history of stroke may be particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution on brain health, highlighting an important intersection between environmental and vascular risk factors, researchers said.

The team from Emory University said that improving air quality could be an important way to prevent dementia -- of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common form -- and protect older adults.

They added that while air pollution known to increase one's risk of Alzheimer's disease and several chronic conditions, including hypertension and depression, it was previously unclear whether air pollution causes the chronic conditions, which then lead to dementia, or whether the chronic conditions amplify pollution's effects on brain health.

The study examined beneficiaries of Medicare, the US' federal health insurance, aged 65 and above during 2000-2018. The participants' exposure to air pollution and whether they developed Alzheimer's disease was analysed, along with the role of comorbid chronic conditions.

Source:Ndtv