The association of long-term exposure to criteria air pollutants, fine particulate matter components, and airborne trace metals with late-life brain amyloid burden in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: Studies suggest associations between long-term ambient air pollution exposure and outcomes related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Whether a link exists between pollutants and brain amyloid accumulation, a biomarker of AD, is unclear. We assessed whether long-term air pollutant exposures are associated with late-life brain amyloid deposition in Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants. We used a chemical transport model with data fusion to estimate ambient concentrations of PM2.5 and its components, NO2, NOx, O3 (24-hour and 8-hour), CO, and airborne trace metals. We linked concentrations to geocoded participant addresses and calculated 10-year mean exposures (2002 to 2011). Brain amyloid deposition was measured using florbetapir amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans in 346 participants without dementia in 2012-2014, and we defined amyloid positivity as a global cortical standardized uptake value ratio ≥ the sample median of 1.2. We used logistic regression models to quantify the association between amyloid positivity and each air pollutant, adjusting for putative confounders. In sensitivity analyses, we considered whether use of alternate air pollution estimation approaches impacted findings for PM2.5, NO2, NOx, and 24-hour O3. At PET imaging, eligible participants (N = 318) had a mean age of 78 years, 56% were female, 43% were Black, and 27% had mild cognitive impairment. We did not find evidence of associations between long-term exposure to any pollutant and brain amyloid positivity in adjusted models. Findings were materially unchanged in sensitivity analyses using alternate air pollution estimation approaches for PM2.5, NO2, NOx, and 24-hour O3. Air pollution may impact cognition and dementia independent of amyloid accumulation, though whether air pollution influences AD pathogenesis later in the disease course or at higher exposure levels deserves further consideration.

Source: Environment International

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108200

Authors: Erin E. Bennett, Ziwei Song, Katie M. Lynch, Chelsea Liu, Emma K. Stapp, Xiaohui Xu, Eun Sug Park, Qi Ying, Richard L. Smith, James D. Stewart, Eric A. Whitsel, Thomas H. Mosley, Dean F. Wong, Duanping Liao, Jeff D. Yanosky, Adam A. Szpiro, Joel D. Kaufman, Rebecca F. Gottesman, Melinda C. Power

Institutions: George Washington University, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Washington University in St. Louis, Pennsylvania State University, University of Washington, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Language: English

Topic: Air Quality and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,790

Funders: U.S. Department of Defense, Biogen, District of Columbia Department of Health, Eisai, National Institutes of Health, Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, National Institute on Aging, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

OpenAlex ID: W4386811546