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Is cardiorespiratory fitness protective against the negative effects of air pollution on brain health? Cross-sectional results from the 4HAIE study

Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Outdoor air pollution, as a group of environmental neurotoxin, may affect cellular and molecular events in the brain via various biological pathways. Exercise enhances neural plasticity and improves cognition partially through its effects on cardiorespiratory fitness. Whether enhanced fitness benefits the brain also when exercise is performed in polluted air is poorly understood. Therefore we aimed to investigate the interactions between neurocognitive correlates, air pollution and cardiorespiratory fitness. Data from the Czech Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment study-Programme 4 was used. The sample for this presentation included 427 participants aged 40-65yrs living in either an area with historically high air pollution or in an area with no or low air pollution (control region). All participants were non-smokers. We used the following neurocognitive markers: cognitive score (z-scores of memory and executive function tests) and total grey matter volume. Neuroimaging was performed using 1.5T Siemens Magnetom Scanner. MRI sequences include T1wMPRAGE, T2wTSE, T2wTSEFS, EP2D-DIFF3-ScanTrace. Based on level of cardiorespiratory fitness (indexed by maximum oxygen uptake during graded exercise), participants were categorised into tertiles as those with low, medium or high fitness. Multivariable regression was applied. A greater grey matter volume and cognitive score was observed with increasing fitness. There were no differences in grey matter volume and cognitive score by residential area (polluted/control) (p > 0.245). However, in participants with low physical fitness, smaller grey matter volume and worse executive functioning was observed in those living in the polluted area compared with the control area (p=0.01 and p=0.05). Models were controlled for age, sex, education, socioeconomic status, ill-health, BMI, height, fatique and noise during testing. We concluded that aerobic fitness may be a natural protective factor against the negative effects of air pollution and potentially positively support neuroplasticity and mechanisms of oxygen transport even in people living in areas with air pollution. Research Category and Technology and Methods Basic Research: 17. Epidemiology Keywords: cognitive function, grey matter volume, air pollution, fitness
DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.03.029
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,830
OpenAlex ID: W4372080553
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