Heavily polluted air can trigger the formation of toxic protein clusters in the brain, which are typical of dementia with Lewy’s bodies. The US neurologists claim that fine dust particles in the air can contribute to the development of devastating forms of dementia by triggering the formation of toxic clusters of proteins that gradually destroy nerve cells. These clusters are a typical feature of dementia with Lewy’s bodies – The third most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
- Polluted air can promote the formation of dementia with Lewy’s bodies.
- PM2.5 particles may contribute to the formation of toxic proteins.
- These proteins destroy nerve cells and lead to problems.
- Research shows a link between pollution and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Pure air is effective to protect the brain health.
“Unlike age or genetics, this is something we can influence. The most direct consequence is that pure air policy is also a policy of brain health,” He said Dr. Xiaobo Mao, a neurologist from Johns Hopkins University and the chief author of the study.
Scientists analyzed hospital records of 56.5 million US patients Medicare. They focused on people who were first hospitalized between 2000 and 2014 with protein clusters damage. Using postal routing numbers, they estimated long -term exposure to patients PM2.5 particles, which are less than 2.5 thousandth of a millimeter. These particles penetrate deep into the lungs and are also found in the bloodstream, brain and other organs.
The results show that Long -term pm2.5 exposure increases the risk of dementia with Lewy’s bodies but had less effect on other neurodegenerative diseases, which are not caused by toxic proteins.
Lewy’s body is formed from alpha-synuklein protein, which is essential for the healthy functioning of the brain, but may incorrectly compose and create various harmful forms. These clusters destroy nerve cells and spread with the brain.
In order to verify the effect of contamination, scientists have issued mouse scientists for ten months PM2.5 particles. Normally mice showed the death of nerve cells, reducing the brain and cognitive decline while Genetically modified mice that did not produce alpha-synuclein were predominantly unaffected. Other attempts have shown that pollution caused the emergence of aggressive and resistant clusters of alpha-synuklein very similar to those found in people with dementia with Lewy’s bodies.
“In my opinion, this shows a very strong link between air pollution and dementia with Lewy’s bodies. We think this is a very significant driving fact of dementia. It is necessary to make a joint effort to maintain a clean air, ”said Ted Dawson, Professor of Neurodegenerative Diseases. The study was published by Science.
