CHICAGO: Pollution is one of the unexpected causes of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, according to a big study by Harvard University, which supports the idea that there is a dangerous link between smog and the most common neurodegenerative diseases of the century.
The study looked at data on the health of about 10 million adults living in 50 US cities. It found that for every extra milligram of fine particles measured over a year, there was also a 15% increase in admissions to hospital due to Alzheimer’s and 8% due to Parkinson’s. The authors cautiously state that the likely cause is that inhaled pollution causes an inflammation of brain tissue. However, further research is needed to confirm and explore this discovery.