Pollution and Inequality Accelerate Brain Aging

SadaNews - A wide international study reveals that environmental and social factors, such as pollution and inequality, may play a critical role in accelerating brain aging, surpassing the impact of traditional individual factors.

In this context, a report published by "Nature Medicine" indicates that the interaction of multiple factors, such as air quality, living conditions, and income, can significantly accelerate the biological age of the brain.

Data shows that an analysis of information from 18,701 individuals in 34 countries revealed that these factors combined explain differences in brain aging of up to 15 times compared to studying each factor separately.

Complex Cumulative Effect

The study indicates that exposure to pollution, high temperatures, and a lack of green spaces is associated with structural changes in the brain, particularly in areas linked to memory and emotions.

Conversely, social factors, such as poverty and weak social support, affect brain functions related to thinking and behavior and may sometimes have a stronger impact than certain neurological diseases.

Researchers attribute this to what is known as the "cumulative effect," where several factors interact simultaneously to exacerbate damage, rather than each factor affecting separately.

The results also suggest that the brain is affected by chronic stress resulting from these conditions, which can lead to inflammation and damage to nerve cells in the long run.

Researchers believe that improving living conditions, such as reducing pollution, increasing green spaces, and promoting social equity, may contribute to slowing brain aging at the population level. However, the study highlights that brain health is not determined solely by individual behavior but is significantly influenced by the environment in which an individual lives, broadening the scope of prevention to include public policies.